Roosevelt and Jackson Elementary SchoolsMedford, OregonElementaryProject of DistinctionOpsis Architecture2010 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

Roosevelt and Jackson Elementary Schools

Roosevelt and Jackson Elementary SchoolsRoosevelt ElementaryJackson Elementary

Community CentersCommunity Environment: The community members were active advocates for retaining the original schools inviting atmosphere. The schools massing and roof forms were broken down into smaller elements, reflecting the surrounding residential architecture. Brick details, precast and metal trim and bay windows create an intimate texture and civic quality that recalls the original historic schools.

School Commons: Heart and Hearth of the SchoolIMAGE

Community Environment: The School Commons serves as the main entry way and a meeting place for students, parents and staff, bringing the whole school together into a single community. Movable display panels and flat screens create places for students to show their work. Tiered risers create informal seating or a stage for small school events.

Project Commons Spaces: Small Learning CommunitiesLearning Environment: The design for innovative learning focuses on small learning communities consisting of learning studios that are connected by Project Commons spaces. The Project Commons spaces function with high transparency, owned by teachers in the surrounding classrooms. Where possible, these Project Commons Spaces open to outdoor learning spaces.

The Learning Studio: The Classroom RedefinedLearning Environment: Each learning studio supports a wide range of learning modes. Bay windows create reading nooks and computer corners bring technology directly into the classroom. Each studio is open through transparent, but acoustically isolated walls to the shared project commons spaces. Windows and indirect natural light from the project commons bring in abundant and natural light.

Bringing the Classroom OutsidePhysical Environment: The neighborhood setting of the school required thoughtful integration of outdoor environment. Early in the planning process, we identified nine specific intelligence types, including bodily kinesthetic and naturalist. The design incorporates the entire site within the learning environment, integrating indoor and outdoor spaces, instead of separating them.

Natural ConnectionsPhysical Environment: Through extensive daylighting and transparency, the outdoor environment is often accessible and visually stimulating for students. Outdoor spaces with tables are used as classrooms, and the garden area and pond provide hands-on learning opportunities.

Collaborative ProgrammingPlanning Process: We developed a highly collaborative programming process with all stakeholder groups that pushed the community to think outside the box to the fundamentals of teaching and learning, unencumbered by the preconceptions of what a school should look like. The resulting program was used as a benchmark to test a series of alternatives for partial or full demolition of the existing structures.

Working from the Inside OutPlanning Process: The least cost/highest program accommodation concept renovated the 1940s classroom wing while demolishing and rebuilding the remainder of the facilities. This student-centered approach fully engaged the stakeholders to think beyond the old schools and focus on the fundamentals of students and community needs.

Floor plan Level 1Jackson Elementary School

Floor plan Level 2Jackson Elementary School

Floor plan Level 1Roosevelt Elementary School

Floor plan Level 2Roosevelt Elementary School

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture2010 Project Data

Submitting Firm :Opsis ArchitectureProject RoleDesign ArchitectProject ContactAlec HolserTitlePrincipalAddress920 NW 17th AveCity, State or Province, CountryPortland, OR 97209Phone503.525.9511

Joint Partner Firm:Abell Architectural GroupProject RoleAssociate ArchitectProject ContactGene AbellTitlePrincipalAddress2 East Main Street, Suite 300City, State or Province, CountryMedford, OR 97501Phone541.779.9686

Other Firm:Fielding Nair InternationalProject RoleEducational PlannerProject ContactRandall FieldingTitleChairmanAddress4937 Morgan Ave SouthCity, State or Province, CountryMinneapolis, MN 55419Phone612.925.6897

Construction Firm:Batzer ConstructionProject RoleGeneral ContractorProject ContactBrett SmithTitleProject ManagerAddressPO Box 4460City, State or Province, CountryMedford, OR 97501Phone541.773.7553

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture2010 Project Details

Project NameJackson and Roosevelt Elementary SchoolsCityMedfordStateOregonDistrict NameMedford School District 549CSupt/PresidentDr. Phil LongOccupancy DateJanuary 6, 2010Grades HousedK-5Capacity(Students)Roosevelt = 400, Jackson = 400Site Size (acres)Roosevelt = 4.5 acres, Jackson = 5 acresGross Area (sq. ft.)Roosevelt = 51,000 sf, Jackson = 55,800 sfPer Occupant(pupil)Roosevelt = 127.5 sf, Jackson = 139.5 sf gross/net please indicategrossDesign and Build?YesIf yes, Total Cost:$12.5 million for each schoolIncludes:Soft costs, including design fee, FF&E, site developmentIf no, Site Development:Building Construction:Fixed Equipment:Other:Total:$25 million

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