Located on a 35-acre campus, three new rustic-contemporary, one-story buildings house the school’s students aged preschool through middle school. The design reflects the school’s mission to guide each child to discover his or her own unique path in becoming a peaceful, spiritual and involved member of society. To bolster that philosophy, the buildings surround a shared courtyard that celebrates a connection with the natural environment and facilitates interaction between students and teachers. The entry building includes offices, a teaching kitchen and a multi-purpose room for fundraisers and other gatherings to benefit the school and the greater community.
In order to emphasize the school’s connection to the outdoors and accommodate teachers’ preferences, each classroom has numerous windows and a segmented glass garage door to maximize natural light and expand the classroom outdoors when weather permits. A north-facing clerestory also provides classrooms with additional day lighting. Outside, students are presented with a variety of diverse play spaces for exploration. A natural playground is built into the existing site, which includes a creek with new bridge, forested and lawn areas. Each classroom also utilizes regional whiskey barrels repurposed to harvest rainwater for students to nurture self-planted gardens.
The project schedule was expedited to accommodate new students in January 2017. The division of the school into three separate, wood-frame buildings accelerated the construction process and provided cost savings to the client. The campus is master planned for future growth and expansion of amenities.
Photos © Attic Fire Photography
