Executive Summary

Despite the perception that mezzanines are for large, industrial applications, Wildeck can customize a solution that will enhance the utilization, efficiency, and safety of any sized facility. When Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin realized that limited floorspace in their fabrication laboratory was interfering with student exploration, the only viable solution was to go up. The 320 square feet of the new mezzanine space provided a student-friendly solution that improved classroom workflows.

The Challenge

In the pursuit of knowledge, students need ample physical space to test and explore the concepts taught in class. Adam Thiel, Career Department Lead and Engineering, Technology and Design Instructor at Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin, enjoys providing his students with a variety of hands-on learning opportunities. As a teacher, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the look on a student's face when something we've been discussing in class comes to life. Despite Thiel's best attempts to provide his students with frequent, tangible learning opportunities, one critical impediment to his goal persisted: insufficient floor space inside the classroom. Safely storing the necessary supplies for four different science courses was preventing Thiel's students from designing and executing projects that transformed the abstract into the concrete.

Our Solution

It quickly became evident that the only solution to Thiel’s dilemma was to utilize the space above the classroom floor. After investigating various options, it was determined that a Wildeck mezzanine with a bar-grating deck surface would be the quickest, most cost-effective option. Measuring approximately 32 feet in length and 10 feet in width, the new mezzanine increased usable square footage in the classroom by approximately 15%. It also provided Thiel and his students with a safe and easily accessible storage area that could be installed in a few days’ time without the inconvenience associated with a new construction project.

Thiel also recognized the importance of selecting a safe solution, one that his students could be entrusted to use independently. “We needed to create a space that was not only capable of storing a variety of resources, but one that students could safely access and work around. The gate alarm and railing system are two of the mezzanine features that really stood out to me.” Wildeck’s EdgeAlert™ Open Gate Alarm instantly alerts operators of an open gate through a combination of flashing LED lights and an audible alarm. The heavy-duty steel railing installed along the edge of the mezzanine platform is strong enough to withstand the rigors of both the industrial environment and eager high school students.

The Nicolet High School students played an integral role in the classroom’s transformation. It provided invaluable insight into potential career paths. “Cleaning and preparing the designated area, being present for the installation and having the chance to speak with Wildeck’s project management team brought  the classroom concepts to life for those that participated.”

With the start of a new school year, Thiel is excited to show his improved classroom to the students and faculty at Nicolet High School and to get his students more deeply engaged in scientific exploration again. With the start of a new school year, Thiel is excited to show his improved classroom to the students and faculty at Nicolet High School and to get his students more deeply engaged in scientific exploration again.