Wilson School Plans Renovations in Clayton's DeMun Neighborhood

Renovations planned at in 's DeMun neighborhood will increase the amount of classroom space available to students and faculty at the facility.

The Clayton Board of Aldermen approved a conditional use permit for the work at its meeting March 13.

A below-ground crawl space and coal room will be converted into a foreign-language room expansion, a computer classroom and a media room, a city memo states. Renovations also are planned for a 950-square-foot space on the first floor, and an exterior stair addition will "enhance emergency access from the lower level."

Brad Johnson is the project architect.

Both the number of people who use the site and traffic levels are not expected to increase as a result of the changes. even during construction, Head of School Thad Falkner told aldermen.

School representatives have spoken about the project with neighbors, who are supportive of the work, he said.

"It will give them a much better learning environment," said Ward 3 Alderman Steve Lichtenfeld, who serves as aldermanic representative to the Clayton Plan Commission and Architectural Review Board (ARB).

The ARB approved several additional changes at the school during a Feb. 6 meeting:

• New front yard plaza along DeMun Avenue

• Monument sign at intersection of DeMun and Fauquier Drive

• Front yard wall at the site's southwest corner

• Chain link fence replacement

• New entry vestibule off of DeMun

The city last approved such a permit in 2004, when the school added an underground gym and a six-space parking lot.

The private school will in 2013.