Templeton Elementary School

The original James Templeton Elementary School was constructed in 1966, making it the district’s oldest elementary school building. It was determined that the school needed to be rebuilt to meet modern safety and educational standards. After close collaboration with the community, Arcadis IBI designed a new elementary school in tandem with a rebuild of its cohort middle school—on the same campus—through careful phasing and sequencing.

The design team engaged with students, staff, parents, community members, and district leaders from pre-bond planning through construction. Those discussions resulted in a building designed to be reflective of the community and responsive to the needs of future generations.

To respond to the differing needs of each learner, classroom neighborhoods were designed as a sequence of student experiences: from individual to group ownership, and from less to more autonomy. Individual spaces include classroom window nooks with nature views, and “porches” outside each classroom that fit one to four people, providing some autonomy yet maintaining visibility. Classrooms can accommodate large group instruction as well as smaller group activities. Small group zones in the extended learning area are shared by all classrooms in the neighborhood and feel more publicly owned.

Flexible furniture supports a variety of activities. It is organized around built-in anchors like markerboards, display walls, and window desks. Floors, ceilings, and exposed structure define circulation away from anchor points. Interior windows provide transparency, implied supervision, activation, and view corridors to the outside world and the rest of the school, increasing students’ awareness of their place within the larger community.

The school provides unique ways for students to experience the classrooms from the inside out and outside in. The scale is broken down to suit younger children and create places for small moments of delight and discovery.

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