T. Harry Garrett Elementary School

Augusta, Georgia

Firm

Studio 3 Design Group, PC

Client

Richmond County Board of Education

Area

50,566 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$7,200,000

Completion Date

08/2011

The T. Harry Garrett Elementary School was designed on an existing site with a graduated hillside, which inspired the Grand Canyon theme that is reflected in the school’s brick patterns and interior terrazzo river-like pattern. Designing a masonry and steel two-story building enabled a larger school to be placed on the site, creating the opportunity for volumes of vertical space in the school’s cafetorium and lobby.

The lobby of the school welcomes guests with an exciting design that uses bold color. Its two-story space features a custom monumental stair and balcony. The organic "river" terrazzo pattern is contrasted by geometric shapes in the floor, walls and ceilings.

The entrance to the media center is just beyond the lobby and is a hub for the various wings of the school. It features an oversized book sculpture, which holds two monitors that will display school information and was painted by a muralist in a Dr. Seuss style. The multipurpose cafetorium features floating ceiling "clouds," a terrazzo wave pattern, and a "village" at the kitchen’s entrance.