The new Manning Elementary School is a two story, 96,000sf, 800 student, replacement to a 1950’s era breezeway-style school. The original building is beloved by residents, many of whom are former students. The goal of the school system was to create a safe and long-lasting neighborhood resource, to be enjoyed by citizens and students alike. At its core, this facility belongs to the community. Therefore, it became critical to engage parents, students, and teachers in a series of design charrettes, in order to understand their desires and expectations. Beyond addressing the program requirements of the owners and end-users, the primary design challenge stemmed from the requirement to transition a continuously occupied campus to a new facility. To that end, particular attention was given to the construction phasing, as well as the maintenance of pedestrian & vehicular traffic patterns across the site. A local artist was enlisted to further articulate the connection between the immediate context and the local ecology, through a series of abstracted & naturalistic murals. These small vignettes not only facilitate wayfinding, they reinforce a sense of place, and instill a sense of pride in that which makes this community unique.
As this project was constructed on a previously developed site, immediately adjacent to the existing campus, many early planning decisions are in direct response to the site constraints. The overall geometry is the negotiation of a compressed footprint [due to parking and loading requirements], prominent street frontage, and effective solar orientation. The resultant angle, between the north and south wings, provides the basis for dynamic interior space in the central commons and media center. Imagined as a “learning hub”, the media center is a brightly lit and highly visible beacon, encouraging students to explore and interact. A combined cafeteria and gymnasium are available for after-hours community use, as the north wing can be securely closed-off.
For a school district that does not build often, longevity was key. The school is constructed primarily of load-bearing masonry. At glazing expanses and clerestory windows, steel framing is used, and ceilings are exposed to show the assembly of the structure. Exterior materials include a mix of utility brick, polished CMU veneer and metal panel rain-screen. Architectural aluminum louvers adorn the main and bus entries. The building utilizes a four-pipe HVAC system with ducted returns for sound isolation and LED lighting is used throughout. Primary flooring materials include terrazzo at the main commons thoroughfare and a bio-based tile (BBT) in classrooms and corridors.
