Date/Time: November 5, 2026 | 2:30 – 3:30 pm

Room: TAHOMA 1

Abstract: Access to nurturing, inspiring environments is especially vital for middle school students, who spend more than 40% of their waking hours on campus. When every part of the site supports immersive, place‑based learning, outdoor areas become as instructional as interior spaces. Embedding curriculum‑aligned elements with evidenced based educational benefits throughout the campus strengthens the connection between space and learning and reinforces the principles of 21st Century School Design.

Ellen Ochoa Middle School embodies this approach. Recognized as the 2025 AIA Maryland Public Building of the Year, the 1,200‑student, high‑performance school campus sits within Glenridge Community Park in Landover Hills, Maryland. The school earned LEED Gold certification and is on track for Net Zero Energy—a first for Prince George’s County Public Schools. Close collaboration with stakeholders shaped a community‑centered campus that integrates seamlessly with the park and enhances amenities for local residents. The design includes a competition gymnasium, a performing arts wing, and specialized labs for science, visual arts, and STEAM programs, all organized around a central Student Commons that unifies dining and media functions. Adjacent courtyards extend the Commons outdoors with educational elements and direct connections to the park and community. Varied indoor and outdoor learning spaces support multiple learning styles, while materials and colors root the school in its natural setting.

Together, these elements transform Ellen Ochoa Middle School into a living, learning ecosystem: one that invites curiosity, strengthens community, and demonstrates the transformative power of designing education and environment as one.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify how programmatic refinement can reveal spatial opportunities that enhance safety, collaboration, and community connection within educational environments.
2. Explore strategies for designing sites that function as healthy, curriculum‑aligned outdoor learning environments using natural systems and durable landscape features.
3. Examine methods that enable educators to teach effectively outdoors, addressing accessibility, comfort, and safety to support year‑round instructional use.
4. Discuss how building and site elements function as learning tools while supporting student well‑being and social‑emotional development.