Work

Located in one of the urban areas most impacted by climate change across the US, with projected sea level rise of up to 6 feet by century's end, the school is designed to both become an integrated part of the local ecosystem and withstand the challenges of a changing climate. The landscaping mirrors native ecosystems such as the hardwood hammock and everglades, optimizing the site's natural cooling properties in Florida’s tropical climate by creating several microclimates onsite. The school buildings are oriented towards the prevalent southeast winds and designed to take full advantage of natural ventilation. Taller trees with large canopies are placed at the northeast and southwest corners to channel breezes arriving from the ocean through the school.

The design of the Desert School promotes natural ventilation: with an evaporative cooling water feature in low openings located at the rear of the classrooms, the cooled air fresh air is channeled into the room, while higher front openings draw the heated air out of the room. In this way, each classroom receives a continuous flow of fresh air.

This Edible School is designed to integrate nature and agriculture into the day-to-day experiences of the pupils, creating a nurturing environment that fosters learning both inside and outside of the classroom. The school grounds are designed with various agricultural plots where students engage in hands-on learning—planting, nurturing, and harvesting crops. The produce grown on-site is used in the school’s meals, providing fresh, organic food that promotes healthy eating habits from a young age. The school building itself, is design as a naturally ventilated mass-timber structure that emphasizes sustainability and health.

Responding to Colorado's chilly, dry climate, the school's architecture harnesses the stable ground temperature for warmth. Embedded in different depths across the site, the building utilizes the earth's thermal mass, capitalizing on the 6°C ground temperature during winter when ambient air temperatures plummet to –20°C. Outdoors, the landscape evolves with the climate. Materials of different thermal capacities create a comfortable environment for year-round outdoor activities, featuring warming gathering space for winter and cooling spots for summer.