York Elementary School, New Building

Raleigh, North Carolina

Firm

Skinner Farlow Kirwan Architecture, PA

Client

Wake County Public School System

Area

119,084 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$34,080,405

Completion Date

12/2021

Jim Sink

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Design Team
CLH Design (Landscape & Civil Engineer); Lynch Mykins (Structural Engineer); Progressive Design Collaborative (PME Engineers); Atlas Engineering (Roof & Envelope)

The most important goal for this project was to create an enhanced environment for student-centric learning. A variety of learning spaces encourage differing educational methodologies and promote the development of 21st-century skills, including communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and global citizenship. Flexibility and adaptability within and between grade-level classrooms and through adjacencies with learning commons are key elements to supporting a student-centered learning experience that is inviting, engaging, relevant, robust, and dynamic.

Another major design catalyst was the existing topography and keeping the existing building in use during construction. This change in elevation along with the number of at-grade classrooms results in a building that steps down the slope. Maintaining the existing forested area provides an environment that most new schools must wait years to attain.

Classrooms provide a good visual connection with shared collaborative areas, both indoors and out. A large learning stair is situated at the heart of the building and links the media center above to the cafeteria and multipurpose room below.