Call to Action: 
Whether an attendee is an architect, school administrator or educator, they will learn how an equity and a community driven approach shaped the process concerning the design and construction of James Baldwin Elementary. Participants will hear from various perspectives, including district leadership, leaders in education and the design team. This successful project demonstrates the importance of focusing on community voice, district equity initiatives and academics in the built environment.

Abstract: Seattle Public Schools’ 2019 Strategic Plan set a powerful vision to address inequities and promote educational justice, when developing James Baldwin Elementary School (2024 James D. MacConnell Award) Key objectives included creating a safe, warm welcoming environment to position all students to achieve reading proficiency by third grade to close achievement gaps. Project leadership held a meeting to align goals and cross pollinate ideas to further design and construction outcomes. The effort focused on disrupting and transforming the design and planning processes to emphasize equity-centered education, fostering an inclusive, supportive space for all students, especially those who had been historically marginalized.

Learning Objectives:

1. Process Modifications and Innovations: Learn about the districts “2019 Strategic Plan” and its direct influence on developing a more inclusive approach to how the planning and design process led to a new approach to community engagement resulting in a culturally responsive design solution.
2. Programmatic Innovations: Learn about the projects initiative to focus on collaboration by supporting students through parental involvement, introducing a family room for support, and distributing libraries throughout the building to enhance educational access.
3. The Outcome: Understand how a student’s academic success stems from culturally responsive input and awareness throughout the design process, creating a dynamic and inviting environment that reduces the institutional feel. James Baldwin offers a tapestry of spatial choices, from versatile classroom areas to shared spaces across the entire school.
4. The Results – Lessons Learned – Broader Impact: Learn how these initiatives can shape both primary and secondary school environments. The approach, aimed at fostering equity, is reflected in student and staff feedback, highlighting the desire for flexible, accessible spaces to position students for academic success.