Diversity in Design Excellence
From a LEED-certified performing arts center to a technology-rich public library, this year’s Citation of Excellence recipients reveal a dramatic spectrum of innovative and thoughtful design
Even a quick look at this year’s eight Citation of Excellence recipients makes it clear that students at all levels of education are benefiting from the outstanding work of architects and design teams that specialize in learning environments.
At an elementary magnet school serving pre-K to 5 students, light-flooded flexible classrooms support diverse instruction strategies. In another award-winning example, a new middle school features a double gym that was built in conjunction with the city—and now the expansive space is an ideal joint-use facility that creates a valuable relationship between the school and the community. These are among the design strategies and best practices that make well-designed education buildings great, and LEARNING BY DESIGN judges agreed: This year’s Citation of Excellence recipients are exceptional.
Here are the eight firms and outstanding design projects that received LEARNING BY DESIGN 2010 Citations of Excellence.
EARLY CHILDHOOD/ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
JCJ Architecture, Hartford, CT, received a Citation of Excellence for the Catherine Kolnaski Elementary Magnet School in Groton, CT. Judges noted that the building’s materials “are very beautifully selected and implemented. It’s a very inviting environment to be in.” Stone and curtain wall make the school’s main entrance stand out, and generous aluminum-framed windows create valuable indoor-outdoor connections. The design team overcame site challenges, including wetlands and rocky, steep topography, to develop two outdoor playfields that allow for concurrent organized sports and free play. Photo Credit: Robert Benson
Based in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, Peter Gisolfi Associates earned a Citation of Excellence for Hackley School: The Kathleen Allen Lower School in Tarrytown, NY. Judges were impressed by the project’s “very village-like architecture” and noted that the design “responds well to the scale of smaller children.” The school serves 220 students in grades K to 4 and is part of a larger Tudor-style campus. The design team successfully integrated the new two-story building into the campus while also creating a new meadow quadrangle called Akin Common, a valuable green learning space. Judges also noted the school’s single-loaded circulation, allowing for copious natural light. Photo Credit: Robert Mintzes, LEED AP
MIDDLE/INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
VCBO Architecture, Salt Lake City, UT, received a Citation of Excellence for Legacy Junior High School in Layton, UT. Judges were particularly impressed with how the school’s design supports informal learning opportunities and maximizes the building’s community use. For example, Legacy’s double gym was built in conjunction with the city—and now the expansive space is an ideal joint-use facility that creates a valuable relationship between the school and the community. Judges also noted the school’s “exceptional indoor-outdoor connections” as well as “exciting exterior” that “integrates well into the landscape.” Legacy serves 1,250 students in grades 7 to 9. Photo Credit: Paul Richer, Richer Images.
HIGH SCHOOL
Based in Tampa, FL, Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc. received a Citation of Excellence for Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, FL. Judges noted, “From the athletic amenities and library to the cafeteria and media center, every space in this school is well-designed.” Completed in August 2009, Strawberry Crest serves 2,500 students in grades 9 to 12. The school is part of a master plan that organizes three distinct campuses at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The schools share sustainable strategies, including shared water retention. “Good campus plan,” judges said. “The architect and the owner really put together a school that met some innovative criteria.” Photo Credit: davemoorephoto.com
COMBINED-LEVEL SCHOOL
Scott Simons Architects, Portland, ME, earned a Citation of Excellence for the Waynflete Arts Center, part of Portland’s Waynflete School, which serves 560 students in grades pre-K to 12. The school’s campus features a mixture of renovated buildings and modern additions located in a historic residential district, and the design team creatively added the Waynflete Arts Center to this environment. Judges noted the “very skillful integration” of the center. “They’ve accomplished something that’s very difficult: tying the new building with the historic houses and existing academic buildings. It’s quite a nice performance space, too, very nicely detailed.” Waynflete Arts Center features visual arts spaces, a theater, art and dance studios, and music and drama classrooms. It is also certified LEED Silver. Photo Credit: Brian Vanden Brink
SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL FACILITY
Based in Chicago, Frye Gillan Molinaro Architects received a Citation of Excellence for The Poplar Creek Public Library in Streamwood, IL. This innovative renovation/addition to the library trans formed existing reading rooms to comfortable lounges that encourage small learning groups and informal interaction. A 5,000-square-foot teen center in the library also helps make the library a valuable community building. “It’s recreating how libraries should act and feel,” judges commented. “And the architecture is very interesting; very innovative design.” The library has a capacity of nearly 1,800 students. The outdoor space features native plants, a filtration rain garden, and more than 15,000 square feet of sedum roofing. Photo Credit: 2009 Lambros Photography
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
Moody•Nolan, Inc., Columbus, OH, received a Citation of Excellence for the Ohio Dominican University—Bishop James A. Griffin Student Center, also in Columbus. “This is very inviting architecture in a lot of ways,” judges said about the new student center, which is certified LEED Gold and has a capacity of about 3,100. “Clearly the atrium is the heart of the building. It feels like a place where you’d really want to be.” Judges also noted the building’s “very warm and inviting palette of materials,” which helps create a social place where students will want to gather. The student center also features a fitness center, lounges, grille and coffee areas, and larger gathering spaces. “As a social place, it is very successful,” judges added. “It also responds well to a larger campus plan.” Photo Credit: Steven Elbert, AIA
Based in Dallas, HKS, Inc. received a Citation of Excellence for Eastfield College Learning Center in Mesquite, TX. “It’s got a fabulous plan,” judges noted. “It’s very modern and fits into the vernacular very well.” The learning center features a two-story entry atrium and open stairway bridge that provide impressive sight lines throughout the building. The bridge features comfortable seating areas, “creating different opportunities to gather and linger for awhile,” said judges. “There are little nooks and crannies throughout, little meeting areas that make this an exciting building to be in.” The student center has a capacity of 550 students that have access to a coffee kiosk and Internet café that further support informal learning opportunities. Photo Credit: Blake Marvin, HKS, Inc.
