Piney Branch Elementary School

Bristow, Virginia

Firm

Moseley Architects

Client

Prince William County Public Schools

Area

104,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$16,215,944

Completion Date

08/2011

This new two-story, 104,000-square-foot school was constructed in Prince William County based on the prototype that the architect designed for the county. The building has a T-shaped plan that places the academic wing in a two-story configuration; the primary grades are on the lower floor and the intermediate on the upper level. On the first floor, the media center is nestled in the corner of the front elevation side of the "T" to provide easy access to all students.

The gymnasium and cafeteria are on axis with the main entry and share an operable partition so that the spaces can be converted to one large space with a platform at the end for assemblies. The administrative suite sits adjacent to the main entry and is on a slightly rotated axis to visually open up the front door.

Piney Branch Elementary School is registered to earn LEED certification. Notable design features incorporated into the design to successfully achieve certification include rain cisterns to capture stormwater runoff; highly reflective roof materials; and low-VOC paints and adhesives.