Located in the Historic West Side of Las Vegas, Wendell P. Williams elementary school is the first prototype two-story elementary school (K-8) that was built in the city of Las Vegas. The facility is approximately. 68,200 square feet and houses over 600 students. The building features many sustainable concepts which include innovative day lighting concepts that greatly reduce the need for costly electrical lighting, the inclusion of natural ventilation, and many other sustainable elements that help make the building run more efficiently and cost effectively. This project also included the development of state of the art teaching tools to as well as a creative design that leave some of the structural elements exposed (as shown in the following Images) and create a sense of sculpture that help to convey a sense of creativity to the learning children.
68,200 sq ft
2002
Las Vegas, NV
KME Architects approaches each project through a structured and systematic process designed to ensure a seamless transition from design through construction. The project will advance through carefully planned design and construction phases, with defined milestones that support timely project delivery.
During the Design Development phase, significant emphasis is placed on refining the building envelope, structural systems, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) infrastructure. Building plans, elevations, cores, and other key elements will be refined and coordinated.
Specialty consultants including acoustical, lighting, sustainability, and other technical experts work closely with the design team to integrate their disciplines into a cohesive design solution.
The KME team provides ongoing cost verification, value analysis, and constructability reviews to ensure that design decisions remain aligned with project goals, budget expectations, and operational requirements.
Maintaining a high level of collaboration and communication among all team members is critical during Design Development. Frequent design reviews and the distribution of work-in-progress drawings help identify and resolve potential conflicts before they become issues.
This coordination process helps pinpoint areas of concern before conflicts arise. Associate team members will utilize Building Information Modeling (BIM) to further refine this process. This approach promotes ownership of design solutions by all team members and provides a method for tracking design rationale.
A key part of the design team will be a dedicated Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Director for the duration of the project. This individual will be a senior, highly experienced project architect with the expertise and leadership necessary to comprehensively and meticulously address all issues. Ensuring that the QA/QC Director reviews all drawings and actively participates in the decision-making process will contribute significantly to the successful completion of the project.
The Design Development package will undergo a comprehensive review and life-cycle analysis to ensure long-term operational performance, maintainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Contract documents will be developed by augmenting the approved Design Development drawings with additional detail and coordination. Full system sheets will be developed, construction packages determined, and constructability issues resolved.
AIAIA, NCARB, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C
Principal
Registered Architect: NV, AZ, MI, OK, UT NCARB
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
American Institute of Architects National Organization of Minority Architects
Master of Architecture, Lawrence Technology University, 2005
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Lawrence Technology University, 2002
* Experience prior to founding KME Architects
AIA, NCARB, NOMA, APEC
Principal
Melvin Green is co-founder and Principal-in-Charge of KME Architects, with over 40 years of experience in architectural design and project management. A respected leader in the Las Vegas community since the mid-1990s, he is recognized for both his professional work and civic contributions. In 2021, he received the AIA Nevada Distinguished Service Award, including the Citizen Architect Award, honoring his impact on the community. Melvin has led numerous master planning efforts across a broad range of project types, including housing, public works, commercial, religious, educational, hospitality, and healthcare developments throughout the greater Las Vegas area.
Registered Architect: NV, FL, GA, LA, TN, TX, Guam
American Institute of Architects National Organization of Minority Architects
National Associations of Minority
Contractors
Bachelor of Architecture, Louisiana Technological University, 1980