The new Oak Heights Elementary School was designed following a biophilic approach and universal design principles to promote student learning, health, and well-being while also serving as a vital community resource. The core concept, ‘A Park Runs Through It,’ emerged from discussions about the lack of local parks and the principal’s and the Design Review Committee's insight that “Nature is nurturing.” This led to strategically placing a public park-like setting closest to the street and locating the school building farther back to minimize distraction and maximize connections to a safe, natural environment. Furthermore, the building’s split-level design promotes a sense of community across grade levels and enhances the experience of the natural site slope. This environmentally focused architecture also includes several sustainable strategies, such as improved ventilation, low-emitting materials, careful stormwater management, and a decarbonization target of 45% embodied carbon reduction.
