The Richard Mann Elementary School renovation is a true collaboration of students, staff, and teachers who desire to reinvigorate their learning process by rethinking the building’s structure. The school, built in the 1960s, was designed with a long narrow corridor off which several “pods” were connected to house grade level configurations. Over time these configurations became closed off, and many spaces turned into storage areas. The feel was dark and uninviting with pathways created to get around poorly used space.

We reimagined how the staff interacted with students and the community daily. Communal spaces were integrated down the central spine with large scale windows looking out into the corridor, allowing for the utilization of these larger spaces for specific tasks or events.

The result was the grouping of each grade level around a hub. Each hub space has a general use room with an operable glass wall opening up onto seating/work areas. Every teacher can view these areas allowing them to monitor children.

The design also integrates wayfinding by utilizing both color and shapes into each of the hub areas. This allows ease of directing children and parents to classrooms and guiding the community to communal spaces.

With community and kids at the heart of the program, integrating a new playground, turf field, and integrated toilet rooms added to the design.