TILLMAN DESIGN
Architectural & Graphic Design
The new addition (left) draws from the character and palette of the existing 1990s building, but expresses those characteristics in subtly more modern ways. Breakout and collaborative spaces are highlighted with high glazing and dark metal panel caps, breaking up the facade and massing without greatly increasing costs.
Existing Site Plan
Given the tight schedule, we started the design process by identifying three potential locations on the site to explore. Within the span of a single week, we created a wide and creative variety of simple 3d massing options for each of the three site locations, helping the client to quickly and effectively make a decision to move forward with. While the central location was tempting for the possibility of forming a courtyard shared with the media center, ultimately the decision was made to proceed with the east site.
New Site Plan
The east site location had many benefits, including fewer immediate constraints and more convenient connections to the main parking lot. As part of the construction process, the site’s parking and traffic flow was reworked to accommodate the higher capacity.
Addition Floor Plan
Primarily envisioned as a fourth and fifth grade wing, the addition’s classrooms free up space for the remaining grades and special education program to expand and meet their capacity needs. The classrooms for each grade are split with shared collaboration and breakout spaces (in blue), providing alternative teaching opportunities as well as bringing additional natural light into the corridor. The majority of the classrooms also include operable whiteboard walls for most of their width, allowing two classrooms to easily collaborate on group activities.
Corridor and Collaboration Spaces
Bold accent colors, strategic use of ceiling soffits, large expanses of glazing at both ends of the addition, and placement of the collaboration spaces on either side of the corridor help the space feel open and energetic, avoiding the feeling of a typical double-loaded corridor. Large display boards on the corridor walls provide areas for class displays and student personalization.
Typical Classroom Axon
Per the client’s request and district security priorities, the design was required to include the students’ lockers within the footprint of the classroom in order to provide an area for the class to quickly shelter in place in the event of an active shooter. By also focusing the class’s typical casework and storage to those areas, the primary portion of the classroom area is completely open and flexible for a variety of activities and group sizes.
A Step Forward
While the district originally preferred that all building additions perfectly match the style and character of the original in order to feel as if they’d always been there, through strong design and persistence our team was able to convince them that the addition could retain the character of the original while still feeling modern. This is emblematic of the project as a whole - in many ways, we were able to help guide a conservative client to implement new ideas and educational practices that will better support their students’ needs and growth.