Architect outlines Yulee Middle School cafeteria expansion

Dean Scott, an architect with Dean Scott Architect, told the school board this evening that Yulee Middle School’s cafeteria is undersized for the school’s enrollment and that a front‑facing addition would both expand capacity and improve campus circulation. "Yulee Middle has over 1,100 students there and the cafeteria designed for two thirds that many," Scott said.

The proposal calls for an addition of a little over 8,000 square feet to the existing roughly 18,000 square foot facility, producing a building of about 26,000–27,000 square feet. Scott said the design would add roughly one‑third more dining capacity, provide three student serving lines plus a fourth line for teachers, add proper restrooms and storage, and create a new lobby and gallery at the Minor Road corner. "We're gonna add about a 3rd more dining capacity than what currently exists," he said.

Scott and district staff also described changes to site circulation intended to ease morning and afternoon drop‑off and pickup. The plans show a formal connection between a parking area and the bus loop, additional on‑site stacking lanes and improved entrance/exit geometry to reduce queuing on adjacent streets. Scott compared the proposed site stacking to another campus and said the concept includes opportunities to expand stacking lanes or parking if demand rises.

On kitchen layout, Scott said the team will remove an island hood and install a continuous hood on the back wall to open the kitchen floorplate and shorten staff travel paths. He said much of the hood work could be completed from the roof or after hours to limit impact on students, allowing kitchen operations to resume when school is in session.

Board members asked about glazing and heat gain on the new facade; Scott said the project team will run an energy model to meet or exceed Florida Energy Code requirements and reduce glass if necessary.

Scott said the district intends to advertise the project for bid before the end of the year and anticipates beginning full work in 2027. The presentation was conceptual; Scott and staff described the drawings as an early design phase meant to guide DOE proofing and later funding work. The board accepted the presentation and moved on to other agenda items.