Under-sized and Aging MPR and Food Service Structures

As food services expand in schools across the state, it is worthwhile to note that kitchen and food service facilities in NMUSD’s existing schools are often less than 20% of the recommended area of food service. This places additional burden upon the district’s central kitchen and has the potential to limit menu and nutrition options for children on these impacted campuses. As a result, food service equipment and points of sale necessarily occupy significant portions of the MPR spaces. The MPR spaces, undersized for most expanded student populations already are further limited by these food service needs. Key infrastructure for MPRs, including audio visual, table and chair storage, accessible stage elements, lighting, acoustic treatments, restrooms, and other features are also often missing from MPRs. Proposed improvements to the MPR are the following: 

1. Replacement and Reconstructing the MPR buildings will allow for right sizing of these spaces with all expected support spaces and building systems. It would also allow for the right-sizing of food service spaces to allow both elements to be both connected yet be able to operate independently. 
2. Renovation and Expansion. As existing structures are constructed of wood and basic materials, expansion of the MPR would allow for newly constructed Food Service spaces and the repurposing of many spaces to expand storage and replace aging infrastructure (lighting, A/V, HVAC, and interior finishes. While this would be the more economical approach, limitations on expansion would be common and significant in some instances due to adjacent structures and parking lots.