Bunche Park Elementary School

The modular, two-story PK-5 elementary school responds efficiently to the requirements of its intended compact, urban site, as well as to the educational challenges faced by urban community schools. The school was designed in conjunction with community partners to provide services that were lacking within the surrounding neighborhood; for example, the 39,517 SF, 354-student station elementary school was modified to accommodate an additional “plugin” building for the school’s ESE program, which caters to autistic children. The elementary school design allowed for accelerated project delivery within a lean budget. Traditional programmatic spaces were designed to promote 21st century collaborative learning aimed at increasing attendance and achievement rates. Students produce daily broadcasts in the state-of-the-art closed-circuit telecast studio incorporated into the media center. The compact building footprint leaves room for enhanced outdoor areas that are shared with the neighborhood, that include a physical education shelter, a primary play area, hard courts, play fields and an expansive covered dining patio.