Oakdale Elementary School

Toledo Public Schools’ new Oakdale Elementary School takes cues from its residential surroundings. The design for this educational home for 672 students has a historic schoolhouse feel.
An interior roofline creates a transitional space flooded in daylight at the main entrance. A continuation of the outside entry canopy, the peaked roofline draws visitors into the lobby space. Immediately off the lobby, the administrative offices have a direct line of sight to the main doors, adding to the security features of the building, including security cameras throughout. Students from both the bus and parent/faculty dropoff areas enter through this main entrance.
The vaulted common space is highlighted by a second-story window, framed in yellow to infuse the space with color. Brightly colored floors go beyond traditional school colors, exploring a wide range of hues. The multi-colored brick and concrete exterior adds interest and reflects the youthful atmosphere.
The new Oakdale improves upon the overscaled four-story school that previously stood on site. In a gesture of respect, the design preserved pieces of the original school for use in the new school. Decorative medallions adorn the outside, and inside bricks from the former school create a feature wall in the main corridor with an “O” for Oakdale.

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