ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS project added numerous indoor and outdoor casual spaces for students and improved the security at the edges of the campus.
Corte Madera School
CAW Architects’ new designs for the state-of-the-art Corte Madera School span two acres and feature two new buildings totaling 20,545 SF. Fully upgraded, energy-efficient systems throughout greatly reduce the district’ s environmental footprint, putting the school on track for LEED silver certification. Per its mission, the school fosters flexible learning environments, encouraging students to experiment, collaborate, and thrive. New facilities include art, science, and classroom spaces, a dedicated“ STEAM Center,” an outdoor deck / classroom overlooking the town’ s“ frog pond,” a student-designed playground with play structure, and an amphitheater with stage.
Ormondale Elementary School The new Ormondale Elementary campus promotes sustainability and dynamic learning. Spanning 8,891 SF, it features modern classrooms for art, music, science, and a“ STEAM Lab” framed by a renovated courtyard that has been transformed into an interactive“ sensory garden,” where the scents and colors of surrounding flowers and fruit trees activate the senses. Strategically sited buildings maximize natural light and views, creating a serene environment for K-3 students. Energy-efficient systems and solar design aim for LEED Silver certification, blending innovation with sustainability to foster a thriving learning space.
www. cawarchitects. com Photos: Marco Zecchin
One of the key highlights is the new building on the 4th / 5th grade side of campus that backs up to the open space known as the“ frog pond”, which is maintained by the larger community. The building is divided into two parts with a“ breezeway” and deck / balcony between them. A ramp leads down to a learning area at the level of the pond that provides a perfectly framed view from the lunch area. On the 6-8th grade side of campus, the new building was oriented to highlight a spectacular view of the peak of Windy Hill, the mountain for which the nearby open space preserve is named. Inside, the classrooms are organized around a central atrium, where students view the peak through the full height of a 26’ curtain wall window system.
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