North Gresham Elementary School

BBT worked closely with a design team comprised of community members, administrators, and staff in developing a strong vision and guiding principles that were kept at the forefront throughout the design process. Unique to this project was a focus on dynamic circulation that offered students a variety of pathways not only between spaces but in the journey of their education. The school also invokes a sense of pride by promoting the theme of the constellations and the North Star by clustering spaces and creating intersections of activity. The entire school can be used as a teaching space through the adaptable and flexible variety of areas that can transform according to their use.

The resulting new elementary school increases educational and operational efficiencies, promote safety and security, and provide innovative learning environments to accommodate a growing student body.

Client: Gresham-Barlow School District
Location: Gresham, OR
Completion: 2019
Size: 75,000 SF
Grade Level: K-5
Capacity: 550
LISTENING TO
ALL VOICES

Teachers asked students to write and draw ideas as part of their own focused exploration. In a special instance, the result of this effort was incorporated and will be prominently featured. At the media center in front of the building there is a picture window, offset from the other datums, where a young student imagines sitting in the sun and reading. Kayla’s window is everyone’s window.

FOLLOWING A PATH

A design goal was to have multiple paths for student movement and to create grade-level gathering spaces. Resulting strategies created an implied path, measured in school years, called “the North Gresham Educational Arc.” The arc linked the grades together along an educational journey.