HMFH Architects
Carver Elementary School
Carver, MA
This new 112,350 square foot school houses 850 students in grades PreK-5. The school replaces two separate academic buildings that lacked a distinct organizational concept and transforms the site into a campus with an energy-efficient building connected to playfields, community space, playspaces and outdoor learning environments.
It just seems like they thought of everything, plus the extras that are just going to enhance and stimulate the kids. I think this is really going to put us on the map in terms of our ability to educate the kids here.
- Students 850
- Grades PK-5
- Size 112,350 ft2
To maintain a small school feel and support the community’s educational philosophy which keeps grade levels clustered together, grades PK-2 are housed on the first floor in three academic wings, and grades 3-5 are housed on the second floor. The new “E-shaped” building is connected by a vibrant central circulation spine – a learning commons that also links each academic wing.
Designed to accommodate the school’s Response to Intervention program, the spine contains small group rooms which are used throughout the day to teach specific skills, as well as teacher workspace, support areas, story nooks, whole grade gathering areas, and public core spaces. Between each academic wing and the spine are project areas with flexible space that can be used for collaborative, hands-on projects by each grade level.
Project spaces are flexible and interesting. Looks like a great place for kids.
The high performance, NE-CHPS certified school design includes flooring made from natural, durable materials, an air quality system that utilizes tempered air as a more energy-efficient alternative to air conditioning, triple-glazed windows and an extensive storm water infiltration design.
After months and months of diligent effort to develop a plan to build and fund a new elementary school, and years of failed efforts to gain support for other plans to address the needs of the failing school buildings… voters turned out Saturday to support this plan by a vote of 1,724 to 502.
