Garden Prairie Intermediate School

Beloit, Wisconsin

Firm

Bray Architects

Client

School District of Beloit Turner

Area

84,678 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$18,500,000

Completion Date

08/2021

Bill Fritsch | Harper Fritsch

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Garden Prairie Intermediate School is a uniquely designed school for grades 2 to 5 that celebrates the connection between the school and the community through vivid, expressive, and tangible design choices.

Beyond fostering a sense of place, the school’s interior serves as a teaching tool. Each grade level has its wing of the school, in what are called neighborhoods that represent the outside community — industry, farmland, wilderness, and riverfront. Large common areas are anchored in the middle, which can be adapted to suit a multitude of learning activities. These areas transition into an extended classroom by employing accordion-fold glass doors.

Additionally, students and staff can occupy the colorful steps area to sit and enjoy story time or have one-on-one learning in the small group instruction rooms. Carpet patterns were carefully selected to correlate with the shapes of each community theme, helping both students and staff make the connection from the classroom to the community. Graphic installations on the walls are highlighted by the natural light from clerestory windows and evoke the neighborhood’s identity.