North Salisbury Elementary School

Salisbury, Maryland

Firm

Becker Morgan Group, Inc.

Client

Wicomico County Public Schools

Area

73,287 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$17,232,972

Completion Date

03/2006

The North Salisbury Elementary School renovations and additions replaced the majority of 11 disparate existing facilities with a new facility under one roof. With a student capacity of 570, it serves grades
3 to 5 as both a magnet school and a neighborhood home school. The tight urban site presented numerous challenges. The design reconfigures the site to separate bus and vehicular traffic while maintaining its prominence on a corner site. Elements of the beloved 1937 structure were incorporated into the new building through both direct salvage and design elements inspired by the original school.
The design incorporates grade-level classroom clusters with a centrally situated media center. The two-story wing includes administrative functions on the first floor and classrooms on the second floor. Vertical circulation is celebrated with a curved main stair highlighted with glass-block forms.
A unique mentoring program, in partnership with the local university, is housed within special classroom/conference areas in the main building.