Arundel Elementary School

Designed with a goal of providing its students—Pre-K through second graders—with a home away from home, the new Arundel Elementary School is nestled into the topography of the site, appearing as a one-story approachable and manageable facility for its young users.

The school and landscape are broken down into a series of zones to guide the children’s increasing comfort level. As users approach from the street and ascend to the school entrance, their excitement builds as they pass outdoor classrooms and learning spaces. Upon entering the building, shared spaces are centrally located and depictive of a living room in a child’s home. The “classroom village”—likened to a bedroom—is the ultimate comfort zone where children can feel at ease and discover their own identity. Each grade has its own neighborhood and includes a centrally-located shared collaborative learning space and resource room.