Walter P. Carter / Lois T. Murray Elementary/Middle Schools

Design Team
Dan Bailey (Principal in Charge); Richard Munday (Design Principal); Steven Orlansky (Managing Principal); Laurie Dickeson (Programming/Project Architect); Michelle Newman (Director of Interior Design); Pritthijit Kundu (Project Manager)

This new LEED Gold public school building in Northeast Baltimore combines the student populations of two existing elementary/middle schools and co-locates the Murray School, which serves students with significant cognitive disabilities from across the district.

The project site has steep topography rising well over two stories. The urban context, topography, existing building, and need for onsite drop-off, parking, and service access resulted in a constrained area for potential building footprint. The solution—a wide floorplate—nestles the building into the center of its site and instills spatial efficiency and flexibility.

The size and placement of windows indicate function: larger windows for gathering spaces, smaller for classrooms, and articulated slots to mark vertical circulation. Contrasting light and dark brick brings a modern character to a traditional school building material. The angles of the building’s wings partially enclose outdoor rooms containing playgrounds, an outdoor classroom, and community plaza.

The two co-located school programs have separate entrances, distinct but both approached from a shared public plaza with a lush, constructed wetland. The plan organization enables the schools to operate independently and the community spaces to function after school hours.

Additional Information

Other projects from this professional

Garrison Elementary School, Modernization and Addition

Design Team: Steven Orlansky, AIA, LEED AP; Richard Munday, AIA; Amy Daniels,...

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