Harrison Elementary School

Design Team: Greg McCracken, AIA; Heidi Slaybaugh, AIA; Scott Winters

This beloved elementary has served generations of families since 1949 and with an enrollment of 450 students, was operating at more than three times its capacity. In developing its replacement, the design team carried out an extensive community engagement process to establish key design directives: increased capacity, educational excellence, shared community use and a celebration of community culture.

The new school’s main entry opens into a two-story Community Living Room. Cross timber beams, vaulted wood ceiling and “windows” inset with images depicting school and community history emulate the physicality of a local landmarked covered bridge. Learning pods, grouped by grade level, are distinguished by unique color and image motifs and feature local waterfalls that provide graphic wayfinding.

Each learning pod offers four classrooms grouped around shared learning space with connectivity to the outdoors. Classroom design maximizes flexibility and transparency to circulation spaces. Expanding access to early learning was a priority, and the site plan supported cost-effective modernization of an existing building for a separate early learning facility, proximate to the kindergarten program, with shared outdoor learning and play areas.

The design employs a full range of sustainability strategies—daylighting, natural ventilation, solar orientation and an energy-generating photovoltaic array.

Additional Information

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