Kathy L. Batterman Elementary School

Las Vegas, Nevada

Firm

Domingo Cambeiro Corp.-Architects

Client

Clark County School District

Area

62,500 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$14,568,527

Completion Date

08/2005

Kathy Batterman Elementary School is an example of the prototype design being used by the Clark County School District—the fifth-largest school district in the nation.
The T-shaped library is one of the unique and effective uses of space needed to support learning. It creates smaller reading and storytelling spaces among the collections and displays, and provides an environment that allows students to work individually or in groups. Centrally situated within the building, the library is easily accessible to all grade levels. Students can sit on the steps for storytelling time and view the outside atrium through the 5-foot-high by 20-foot-wide window that brings in daylight.
The Learning Center design in the classrooms encourages lifelong learning by integrating different age groups and technologies in one room. Each classroom pod consists of one learning center surrounded by eight classes of different sizes. The Learning Center has the technology to support innovative teaching and learning experiences that prepare students for thinking outside the box. It also gives them practice in dealing with diverse team members.
The three main educational design challenges for the prototype were the limited budget and building area, the need for a highly flexible and easily bid design in order to be suitable for many sites over a 10-year period, and the need to identify the programmatic requirements of each grade level in order for the pod design to function successfully.