Stough Elementary tasked our team with creating a cohesive building that incorporated their multiple buildings and allowed growth for the school and community. The two-story classroom wing aligns with optimal solar orientation, inviting as much natural light as possible into the building while minimizing solar heat gain. Color makes wayfinding easy for the students; each grade has its own color and common areas such as the gym, media center, restrooms, and main entry are accented with the school colors of yellow and blue. In some places these bands have been used to disguise mechanical ducting to provide a clean, uniform space. The corridors include a ribbon of color leading throughout the building to help children line up when going between classes.

The program includes 10,000 SF of collaboration space located between classrooms for individual and small group learning. These areas incorporate large amounts of glazing to connect the students to their classrooms while allowing natural light to filter into the core space of the building.  The collaboration space includes different types of furniture for different styles of learning in bright pops of color.  The classrooms also maximize the use of natural light to promote learning and creativity. The two-story media center stands on the corner of the site, connecting the neighborhood to this new shining gem. The large windows flood the reading areas with natural light, and a glass overlook balcony forms a connection with the second floor. Low bookcases help to maintain sightlines to the entire media center.