Tacoma, WA | 450 Student Elementary School | Completed Fall 2018
Project Role: Conceptual Design - Construction Documentation
Challenge: With community graduation rates plummeting, how can we design a new typology for elementary schools that keeps students engaged, challenged, and consistently learning.
Solutions: Arlington Elementary School is designed with the primary goal of providing learning opportunities at every turn.
Students are provided the opportunity for constant indoor/outdoor connections and flexible classroom spaces facilitate smaller learning pods.
I designed a natural playground to help encourage safe risk-taking and confidence building. Natural elements are integrated across the site to reduce stress levels and connect students to the larger natural environment.
Perforated metal screens provide privacy and light to an outdoor classroom space.
Logs from the site are scattered throughout the courtyards to engage students and act as a natural play element.
Commonly skipped when designing new schools, I advocated for user interviews with our most important new user group - students!
We led Design Workshops, embracing an immersive and collaborative approach to design. Through those workshops and design exercises, we were able to develop a project tailored to the community.
The playground includes everything you would want and then some. Including some natural play elements. I led the design of this feature while coordinating with project Architects, Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, and City of Tacoma staff.
We utilized bright colors to create a fun and safe space for students.
Providing fun ways to walk, jump, or climb up a small hill.
Lets build great products together!
Thanks for stopping by, contact me at: Saitelbachj@gmail.com