The new Northstar Elementary School is designed to be an educational interactive facility where the student distinguishes between what is taught and what is learned. The challenge was to provide a building that specifically encourages and supports the educational specifications and curriculum, rather than merely providing a space for teaching.

Through the use of playful colors, fun textures, bold geometric shapes, natural light, and an innovative floor plan, as well as the ability to access technology in virtually every room in the building, Northstar creates in students the excitement for learning and stimulates their minds every day.

The building also is designed to foster individuality and identity in students. The classrooms are grouped in neighborhoods of six; four neighborhoods comprise the classrooms for the first through sixth grades, plus the kindergarten/preschool group--each with its own identifying color and shape. This reduces the scale of the educational experience for the students, enabling each child to relate closely to his or her microenvironment and to find both reassurance and nurturing qualities within it.

The project was designed and built in 16 months, using concrete block and E.I.F.S. as the predominant construction materials. A state-of-the-art controls system provides optimal energy utilization of the mechanical heating and cooling.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
New Construction

Valentiner Crane Brunjes Onyon
524 S. 600 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Steve Crane
(801) 575-8800

Design team

Steve Crane, AIA
Principal-in-Charge

Jeanne Jackson, AIA
Project Architect

Dan Nelson, AIA
Project Coordinator

Client

Salt Lake City School District
Dr. Darline Robles, Superintendent
(801) 578-8599

Grade span
K-6

Current building capacity
650

Current building area
73,000 square feet

Total project costs
$6.8 million

Cost per square foot
$93

Space per student
112 square feet

Cost per student
$10,461

Completion date
August 1999