Thomas Jefferson Elementary has always been the pride of the local community. When it came time to double its size to accomodate growing enrollment, the community joined the design team to focus on crucial issues such as comprehensive application of new technology, integrated circulation routes, and a centralized gathering space, all while keeping costs low.

As the new addition wraps around the existing facility, it creates a courtyard that is truly the heart of this community school. The walls of the building move and the pavers flow to break up the scale and create distinct spaces for outdoor classrooms and small group gatherings. Construction demonstrated the love the community has for their new home--a school board member designed the courtyard landspacing plan, parents and neighbors arrived to plant, and children in an art class made stepping stones to line the paths.

The courtyard's spirit is reflected inwards. A trellised reading area in the spacious new media center brings the outdoors in, corridors carve away to flow and weave the building together, and plentiful interior windows connect individual classrooms with the community that supports them. The media center employs colored volumes and differentiated materials to denote entrances, reading and computer areas, and the circulation desk. These boldly colored forms extend into circulation paths at key areas of the building and serve to break up the corridor spaces as well as call out major common areas of the facility.

Location:
Newton, Iowa

Owner:
Newton Community School District

Size: 30,390 SF

Completed:
January 2001

Cost per SF:
$81.12

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Floor Plan

Media Center

Corridor outside Media Center

Courtyard