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Beaverton School District's Sato Elementary School exterior. Grey textured walls below yellow 2nd floor with skywalk between
Beaverton School District

Equitable Prototype Design for Elementary Schools

Client

Beaverton School District

Project Location

Beaverton, OR

Services

Architecture, engineering, interiors, building optimization

Projections tied to growth and a need for long-range planning drove a key component of Beaverton School District’s capital improvement program to develop a successful elementary school prototype design. DLR Group’s design began with the identification of three significant criteria: housing up to 750 K-through-5 students; flexibility to fit on multiple sites; and responsiveness to district needs.

Typical prototype design standards were challenged and redefined in this unique, vertically driven design which prioritizes daylight and fresh air, as well as easy separation of spatial typologies. Beaverton has committed to provide new capacity through projects such as the prototype elementary schools – keeping safety and security at the forefront of all planning and design. Centralized commons serve as the heart of each school, with adjacent site connections and views. The first two schools opened in fall of 2017, a third in 2018 and a fourth in 2019.

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Classroom with yellow exposed beams at angles by windows, right. Oval kid sized tables and chairs around blue alphabet carpetClassroom with yellow exposed beams at angles by windows, right. Oval kid sized tables and chairs around blue alphabet carpet
Classroom with yellow exposed beams at angles by windows, right. Oval kid sized tables and chairs around blue alphabet carpetClassroom with yellow exposed beams at angles by windows, right. Oval kid sized tables and chairs around blue alphabet carpet

All second floor classrooms are 100% daylit with a variety of levels to achieve quality daylight and views of nature.

Textured grey wall on 1st floor below paneled upper level on 2 story building. Thin rectangular windows under white overhang

Subtle changes of colors differ from one prototype school to the next providing unique identity to each school.

Double height gymnasium with exposed beams above. Wood basketball court with hoops raised. Projector screen at center left

Our design locates all the public spaces on the ground level: gymnasium, cafeteria, and media center.

View of gymnasium in opposite direction. Flexible wall opened to cafeteria. Wood bleachers on left. Hazeldale Elementary sign

Vertical zoning makes it easy to close off the academic zones while keeping the public areas accessible.

Cafeteria viewed from 2nd floor walkway facing gym. Rows of round folding tables with attached seating. Stairs on left wall

One continuous space or sub-divided, the gym/cafeteria/kitchen supports a variety of school activities.

Double height white cafeteria with orange accents. Windows along far wall. Round folding tables on ground level. Kitchen left

Double-height volumes with top light and a courtyard for sidelight drive daylight deep into the heart of the school.

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