A building addition at Langston Hughes Elementary School created new classrooms for kindergarten students.

Editor’s note: This story is the first in a six-part series preceding Saturday’s public tour of the recently completed construction projects in the Lawrence school district.

With the click of locks by administrators in the new front office of Langston Hughes Elementary School, 1101 George Williams Way, visitors to the renovated school step onto a floor of polished concrete. To the left, where there used to be a solid wall, are floor-to-ceiling glass doors that look into the cafeteria and can retract electronically.

“It is wonderful to be able to open them up for big events,” said Langston Hughes Principal Jackie Mickel.

A building addition at Langston Hughes Elementary School created new classrooms for kindergarten students.

In addition to the office, which was relocated in order to be part of the secure entrance, the school has four additional classrooms and two new learning pockets, said Lawrence schools Superintendent Rick Doll. The learning pockets are break-out study spaces with flexible furniture such as stools, benches and tables, located outside of traditional classrooms.

“It’s the whole blended learning piece,” Doll said. “It lets kids step out on their own or to work with a teacher.”

Langston Hughes, which is the district’s newest school, already had several learning pockets before its renovation, but the walls dividing classrooms and learning pockets were solid. As part of the renovation, each adjoining wall was partially cut out and interior windows were added in order to give teachers a clear view of students.

“Now teachers facing the pods have large glass windows so the entire learning area is visible to the adults,” Mickel said.

One renovation at Langston Hughes Elementary School was the installation of a glass window divider between the hallway and cafeteria where before there had been a wall.

Langston Hughes is one of five elementary schools in which additions and renovations were completed ahead of the new school year. Renovations at all schools include secure entrances; “hardened space” storm shelters with concrete ceilings; new heating and air-conditioning systems with classroom-specific adjustment; secure, keypad-entry classroom doors; attached bathrooms in kindergarten classrooms; and separate cafeterias and gyms for schools that didn’t already have them.

Langston Hughes also has new paint, carpet and furniture, but Mickel said her favorite part of the building is the learning pockets.

“They are so open and kid-friendly,” she said.

Superintendent Rick Doll discusses new interior windows at Langston Hughes Elementary School, which provide teachers and students a view into the hallways and new Learning Pockets.

Voters approved the $92.5 million school bond issue in April 2013 to improve facilities at all 20 schools in the district and build the new Lawrence College and Career Center, 2910 Haskell Ave.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the College and Career Center and a “Parade of Schools” will be this Saturday. The Parade of Schools will include the five schools where additions and renovations were recently completed: Langston Hughes, Cordley, Hillcrest, New York and Quail Run.