The former Royce Elementary School in Beloit sat vacant for several years before Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois saw what it could become. The 40,000-square-foot adaptive reuse and addition transforms the mid-century school into a community-centered social housing model that brings transitional housing, childcare, a community center, and on-site social services together under one roof. Classrooms became childcare spaces and transitional housing units, while the existing gym was converted into a flexible recreation and community space with a full commercial kitchen.

The project came with real design challenges: a low-sloping precast roof deck that limited ceiling and plenum space, aging infrastructure, and the need to adapt existing furnished areas throughout. Mechanical upgrades replaced the original boiler and fan-coil system, and careful system selection and coordination ensured the design met both the functional and aesthetic requirements of the revitalized facility.