The scope of work for this project included a new 29,000 SF, two-story classroom building for a public elementary school campus that has a highly-regarded program for students with autism. The building contains eighteen new classrooms, eight of which will be designed for students with autism and special needs. Other campus-wide improvements include renovations to existing administrative and classroom areas, as well as the design of two new parking areas, a new covered play area, basketball court and enlarged bus loop with covered walkway.

After examining multiple site options for the new building on the school’s campus, the design team and school administration decided to locate the building within the center of the existing campus. This created logistical challenges during construction due to the close proximity to existing buildings. However, the central location allows the students with autism to be integrated with the daily life of the campus.

The exterior materials were chosen for their durability and low maintenance. The north and west facades are clad in brick veneer with pronounced accent bands at every third course that project ½” beyond the adjacent face. The brick detailing accentuates the window pattern and repetition of the classrooms within. The east and west facades are comprised of stucco surfaces which appear to fold down from the roof surface and erode to reveal decorative egress stairs clad in colorful aluminum panels.

The selected brick is a modular brick consisting of three shades of warm gray. The blend was installed randomly, with the exception that the “projected” bricks are all of the darkest gray tone. This helps to accentuate the prominence of the brick detail. The crisp white stucco and bright orange metal offer a satisfying contrast to the warm brick.

The design of the green space included a series of integrally colored orange benches set at varying heights. The articulation of the benches within the green space is a play on the articulated brick accent detail on the new building.

Exterior stair railing system consists of laser cut ¼” aluminum panels secured to an aluminum tube support structure. The railings received a factory powder-coat finish. The panel cut-out design is an abstraction of the mission-style curved parapet of the original school building on this campus.

Brick coursing is projected ½” at locations of window fenestration. This creates a visual element that organizes the first and second floor window openings, and creates a rhythmic element on the façade.
The projected brick detail also creates a natural location to inconspicuously locate the required vertical brick control joints.

Typical window sills are precast concrete that were custom color matched to the brick. Brightly colored orange aluminum panels set between window groupings creates an additional layer of depth and rhythm to the façade, as well as bringing a playful element to the elementary school building. Aluminum sun shades were included on the south facing classroom windows. The sunshades provide effective sun control, while also enhancing the play of light and shadow on the south elevation.