Cornwell Architects and DHAE out of Kalamazoo, as a team, were contracted to design a new Montessori Elementary School using the principals of Montessori teaching. We applied a large, L-shaped classroom concept and grouped multiple grade levels in each wing of the building to allow for flexible teaching based on skill and interest levels vs grade/age level. The building consists of two media centers, a competition sized gymnasium, both a band and choir room, a science room and a large, multi-purpose adolescent room. The two-story design houses upper elementary students on the second floor and pre-k and lower elementary students on the first floor with separate drop-off and pick-up entrances for classroom wings.

The project includes a modern exterior with brick and metal panels cladding the building while the interior includes common areas for small group learning with transom windows to allow for an abundance of natural lighting. The final building is a sprawling, two-story structure that is visually separated into smaller sections using the brick and metal panel units.  The central area-Media Center– showcases a two-story glass corner design that allows for maximum southwest facing daylight..