This is a project of the office of Burtch W. Beall, Architect. Greg Upwall was the designer and project manager
The project involved remodeling an aging public elementary school and adding 22,000 square feet to house a new multi-purpose room, cafeteria, stage and eight new classrooms. Located in a working class suburb of Salt Lake City, this school faced steadily increasing enrollment coupled with limited budget.
Early on the favored design approach was one that established an interior courtyard garden between the old and new classroom wings. The school district resisted this scheme in the beginning fearing that the garden would exceed the budget and create a maintenance problem. The courtyard is at the focus of the final design and includes a collection of raised planting beds which are individually assigned to each classroom giving the students a secure outdoor space and opportunity for gardening.
Interior classroom spaces are enhanced by indirect light fixtures, raised ceilings, and exposed structure and ductwork which is painted in bright colors. The entire garden wall of each classroom is glazed to provide natural daylight and direct views to the garden.
sustainable measures: -natural daylighting
