The Shawnee Mission School District was experiencing a rejuvenation within the neighborhood Crestview Elementary is located. Since neighborhood schools are a hallmark of this District, it was determined the original 60-year old elementary school no longer fulfilled its mission and the planning of a replacement facility began.
Main Priorities and Design Goals
• Complementary to Surrounding Neighborhood
• Opportunities for Continuous Learning, Collaboration
• Flexible and Accommodating to Multiple Teaching/Learning Styles
• Subtle Safety and Security Through Openness and Transparency
The 1-story with pitched roof design reflects the 1950’s neighborhood of single-story ranch style homes. Care was taken to ensure the new materials selected were sustainable, and highly durable. The exterior palette includes carefully selected earth tones and natural finishes to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood.
The interior design layout affords administration a complete view of the school from a central location, and provides students with a welcoming, encouraging, and safe place to learn.
Opportunities for continuous learning, and collaboration while allowing for multiple teaching/learning styles were achieved by the inclusion of breakout spaces and flex classrooms in each educational corridor. Other corridors include spaces for arts education, a media center, makerspaces, a gymnasium/safe room, a cafeteria, music rooms and more.
Splashes of bright colors assist with way-finding and separate grade levels. Natural materials, bright colors, and soft seating, along with movable tables and chairs are located throughout the corridors providing for additional collaboration and broadening continuous learning opportunities.
The subdued color palate found in classrooms provide teachers the opportunity to create an atmosphere fitting of students’ personalities and learning styles while encouraging innovative and personalized learning experiences. Various types of seating allow students to select what makes them comfortable enhancing their specific learning style while accommodating their developmental need to move and shift positions. Classroom flexibility enables teachers the ability to quickly reconfigure the room to adapt for each activity.
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