FRK Architects-Engineers P.C.

Johnston Community School District is one of the fastest growing districts in the state, with their student population nearly tripling over the past fifteen years. As a result, they have faced many facility challenges, as they have sought to rapidly add classroom space while developing a strategic plan for future expansion. FRK has been a partner in this process, working to help the community develop the highest quality educational facilities.

Horizon Elementary is Johnston’s fourth and newest elementary school. It is carefully designed to accommodate over 700 children in kindergarten through fifth grade, yet provide a comfortable, personal learning environment for each student. To accomplish this, the school is organized into learning communities.

Each learning community includes four or five classrooms grouped around a common resource area. The open resource area serves many flexible functions, such as hosting informal gatherings or providing computer access for an entire class. Special attention is given to the details of each community so that it is appropriately sized for the children who use it. For example, the heights of the bathroom fixtures and water fountains are different for each grade level, so they will change as the children grow.

The learning communities are organized around a central media center, the focal point of the building. Other common areas, such as a gymnasium and cafeteria, are provided as well. These facilities are set apart from the learning communities to provide a quiet learning environment.