LCSD Silverland Elementary School

FERNLEY, NEVADA

The design of the elementary school is based on grade-level pod arrangements, with each pod focused around a “multi-purpose” area that is to be a shared/flexible space for spill over activities and group assignments. Each pod contains individual grade level ancillary spaces including resource rooms, work rooms and support spaces which promote a community based educational environment for both students and teachers.

Following a series of locally driven design charettes, the new schools were designed to respond to the needs of the community in both their programmatic and aesthetic arrangements. Developed as part of a new educational campus, the materiality of each school reflects both the local built and natural context of Fernley, while providing a sense of community and permanence.

Responding to budgetary limits, the integration of special materials such as glazed block, atlas brick, corrugated metal and polycarbonate panels are found at special locations throughout each school. The exterior color palette of the campus reflects the cool colors associated with the fall and winter season. These colors are juxtaposed against a series of vivacious moments of color which code the various internal programmatic spaces, thus energizing the interior environment. A central courtyard anchors the school, providing flexible spaces for both social and educational opportunities.

The school is oriented to maximize solar exposure from the south, while providing natural day light to all classroom spaces. A Solar hot water system and series of wind turbines provide a renewable supplement to the energy demands of the campus.