Client:
East Baton Rouge Parish School System,
Size:
91,000 SF
Completion Date:
2011
Coleman Partners Architects was commissioned to master plan and design the new Claiborne Elementary school in Baton Rouge, LA as a replacement school for three outdated K-5th grade facilities.
As the largest elementary facility in the parish there are 44-classrooms including standard, self-contained, and specialty art and music teaching areas in over 95,000 square feet for 850 school children. The firm developed a plan and design that is intended to suitably house and educate this large number of students in a way that breaks them down into smaller units, so children (and staff) do not become experientially overwhelmed.
The floor plan is broken into three major forms, two of which are 2-story, centered about a courtyard. Linkages between each node are transparent and given a clear hierarchy to ease way-finding as well as engage the outdoors. There are other additional elements in the design, particularly in semi-public areas, such as teaching and performance platforms, which provide multiple opportunities to expand teach protocols.
The floor plate has been rotated relative to the site so that the new school provide not only an exciting variety of spaces to stimulate child-centered learning, but present a strong visual image within the surrounding community.
