Client:
East Baton Rouge Parish School System,
Size:
76,000 SF
Completion Date:
December 2019
Design what will be the first school in the district to embrace the concepts and pedagogies of a “21st century school”
Ultimate flexibility of spaces and learning environments, a detour from traditional schools
Address the conflicts and contradictions that arise when new models replace old ones
Work with the owner and user to integrate furniture and technology into the design and concepts
AIA Honor Award
Rose Award
AIA Baton Rouge
2020
Grand Prize Winner:
Education
Starnet Commerical Flooring Design Awards
2020
The elementary school was the first in the district to embrace and integrate the concepts of a “21st century school”. With a focus on the end user, the design allows a diversity in learning environments, furniture for utility in use, the integration of technology, and light-filled spaces. The shift away from the traditional school model of isolated learning, limited student access, traditional libraries, and sameness required extensive engagement with the owner, staff, and students.
This facility includes 23 classroom spaces organized by grade into “schoolhouses”. The classrooms within these schoolhouses are clustered around collaborative learning areas that can be used as breakout spaces for individual classrooms or may be used as a teaching space for multiple classes. The 21st century classrooms and collaborative areas have the latest technology easily accessible to students, encouraging research and discovery.
These spaces incorporate an abundance of natural light, openness, and transparency with goal of improving educational outcomes. The classrooms are flexible and allow for various grouping formats that best suit the lesson plan. Students may be organized in a group gathering area; aligned in a traditional model; or broken into small clusters depending upon the particular learning activity. The school offers several exterior learning environments including an out-door teaching area, an interactive water modeling feature, gardening areas and interactive acoustic music stations.
