A safe, efficient and resilient school built with BuildBlock ICF.
The Ada Early Childhood Development Center in Ada, Oklahoma is a 45,000 sq ft educational facility built using BuildBlock Insulating Concrete Forms. The school serves early childhood and elementary students and was designed to provide comfort, safety and long-term operational savings. The project team required a structural system that could support year-round classroom comfort, withstand severe regional weather and reduce utility spending for the district.
The project introduced several requirements that shaped the choice of building system:
These needs placed clear emphasis on structural strength, thermal consistency and predictable performance.
BuildBlock ICF was selected to meet the structural, thermal and safety requirements of the project. The system provided a stable and predictable wall assembly for the entire building.
Key advantages included:
Different wall thicknesses were used based on functional requirements.
Classrooms and offices used 4 inch ICF walls.
The cafeteria used 6 inch ICF walls.
The gymnasium and safe room used 12 inch ICF walls with a 24 inch thick concrete roof for enhanced protection.
Energy use was a significant consideration for the school district. Prior modelling predicted annual utility costs above seventy thousand dollars with conventional construction. The insulated concrete envelope created by BuildBlock ICF reduced expected energy demand by up to thirty percent.
The district leadership reported benefits in comfort, sound quality and operational savings. These outcomes supported the decision to select ICF as a responsible long-term investment for the community.
The reinforced ICF structure provided the resilience needed for a designated safe room. The gymnasium was built with thicker walls and a heavily reinforced roof to protect students, staff and local residents during severe weather events.
This dual function strengthened the value of the building for both the school and the surrounding community.
The Ada Early Childhood Development Center demonstrates how BuildBlock ICF supports high-quality educational environments. The completed building provides consistent temperatures, quiet classrooms and a durable structure that can withstand severe weather.
For the district, the project delivers lower utility costs and reduced maintenance.
For the community, the facility serves as a safe and resilient gathering point during storms.
For the wider industry, it shows how large institutional buildings can benefit from insulated concrete forms and the predictable performance they provide.
