Forest View Elementary School

Everett, WashingtonElementary School

Project of DistinctionDYKEMAN

2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

Forest View Elementary School

Main Entry

Community Environment The project uses the sloping site to advantageously position the larger masses of the building on the lower slope, providing a scale at the main entry in harmony with the surrounding neighborhoods. Building administrative functions and the cafetorium, spaces that are commonly accessed by the public, are readily identifiable and easily reached from the parking area. Existing neighborhood pathways to the adjacent Middle School are integrated into the new elementary school site design.

Inviting Community Use

Community Environment

The outdoor sport and play areas are located at the front of the school, inviting community use and providing ease of access. Outdoor amenities include a covered play area, Little League baseball field and U-12 soccer field, and two outdoor classrooms.

Small Group Breakout Spaces

Learning Environment

Each learning pod consists of four classrooms surrounding a common “breakout” space. The breakout spaces are common spaces that allow students to break into smaller groups for instruction or special projects. Innovative and progressive learning programs with changing educational delivery can easily be accommodated with operable partitions allowing for team teaching, flexible class sizes and multi-use spaces sized as classrooms.

Outdoor Learning

Learning Environment

The exterior landscape design provides two outdoor classrooms allowing incorporation of the site into the curriculum. Outdoor benches and waist-high table ledges can be used by students to prop their books and take notes during outdoor science studies where the trees are part of the laboratory.

Natural Light

Physical Environment

The main circulation corridors within the building are oriented parallel to the meandering forest edge, with two breaks in direction anchored by stairwells which open up to views of the forest. The circulation core is further emphasized with a clerestory at the upper level providing a source of daylight for the interior of the building, and allowing natural light from two sides of each classroom. All systems are left exposed for opportunity for passive and active teaching potential.

Interior & Exterior Connection

Physical Environment

A two-story solution was proposed to accommodate the grade change and allow a view of the forest for each classroom. Wood poles and glu-lam beams were used in the main circulation space to further connect the interior with the exterior. The school is designed to take advantage of its surroundings and to bring the outdoors inside – in spirit and in reality.

Building Form

Planning ProcessThe site presented some real challenges for the prototypical school layout due to wetlands, substantial grade changes, and an existing Type I stream. Rather than trying to make the prototype fit on the site, the ultimate solution was to develop a new prototypical program, one that would allow the building form to vary in ways that could be manipulated to fit this site and others in the future. A “forest view” is what students and visitors see from the hallways, stairways, classrooms and the library.

Program

Planning ProcessThe architect worked closely with the District to develop elements of the prototypical program, including the Cafetorium / Kitchen / Gym module, the Administrative module and the classroom modules. The exposed building systems were a new approach for the District as well and required effective and open communication between the District’s Maintenance Department, the architect and the engineers.

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Data

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Details

Supporting/Supplemental Files/Images

Concrete Mimics a RiverbedMeandering sections of the entry walkway concrete are stained blue to mimic a riverbed.

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Stairway ViewsRailings along the stairs have metal dividers reminiscent of tree branches; stairway window views give the impression of walking among tree limbs.

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Ventilation & LightingVentilation system brings outdoor air in, ensuring a continual and quiet flow of fresh air into every classroom and hallway. Windows placed high near ceilings capture and funnel natural light from outdoors into classrooms and hallways.

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Forest ViewForest View was named for the beautiful wooded area that surrounds the school and the landscaping that has become an integral part of the learning environment.

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Outdoor Learning Back Entry

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West View of Library at Twilight