Solomon Schechter Day School (Cleveland)

This private school in suburban Cleveland educates students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. In addition to 24 classrooms, the facility contains a media center, multipurpose room, gym, administrative offices, tutorial rooms, teachers’ lounge and a kitchen. The school wanted to distinguish between grade levels because the age range of students was vast. The solution was to define the standard grade divisions into three wings—kindergarten, elementary and middle school—to give the age groups a distinct identity.
The building is organized so that classroom wings radiate from the academic center. This conveys the idea that the building emanates from its intellectual activities. The other functions, such as the gym, administrative offices and multipurpose room, are tucked behind the media center.
The media center is made of glass that lets natural light into the space. The main hallway outside the media center is widened and filled with natural light through a clerestory.
The building’s exterior uses visual cues to identify it as a classic American School. The clock tower, the flagpole, the building name over the door and the forecourt area all are recognizable motifs of school design.

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