A request for sustainable, transformative design to address necessary upgrades and additions to a 1,000-student public middle school generated a design with distinctive solar chimneys that dispense with the need for air conditioning while supplying a heuristic science lesson on differential air pressure and encouraging engagement and curiosity.
The firm led an interactive design effort to optimize and prioritize use of limited funds with a committee of parents, faculty and staff to incorporate three key new elements: an attendant’s office and photovoltaic shade canopy, nine classrooms with outdoor breakout spaces, and a rustic drought tolerant shady setting at the edge of the playing fields.