2009 Design Award Winner

Williamsburg Elementary School
Replacing the 1920’s Coultrap Elementary School, Williamsburg Elementary School is a new 102,000 square foot K-5 elementary school. The design of this new school is organized along a “student street” main corridor. Shared and public use spaces are located with easy access from parking and to the playgrounds and fields.

The new facility is designed to retain the feel of a neighborhood school. Upon entering Williamsburg Elementary School, visitors are greeted with friendly blue-glazed block wall in the hall, and a deep red wall in the lobby to the left. The entire school is filled with natural light.

A “student street” greets the elementary students, leading them to their two-story academic wings to the east. Walking down the main corridor on either floor, you will find three classroom houses on the east side. Special education spaces are scattered throughout the building.

Opposite the classrooms, the west side of the school contains the two-story shared spaces of art, media and music. Large windows allow for an abundance of natural light with deep overhangs and vertical masonry sun screens to diffuse the light and reduce glare on computer screens. Close to the main entry and parking, the versatile cafetorium hosts a small stage and can be set up with cafeteria-style or folding chair seating.

Outside the school, play areas are protected from the parking lot by planters and plantings. Mature trees and native landscaping surround the paths that students can ride bikes on or walk to school from the surrounding neighborhoods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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