Cool Spring Elementary School
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
This Adelphi, MD school needed a quick and minimally disruptive way to create a larger replacement school to accommodate their growing student body. Its location on a tight site added another layer of challenges.
Our design implements a three-story building in front of existing facilities, allowing uninterrupted learning during construction.
By combining off-site construction for classrooms with ICF technology for larger spaces, we minimize disruption, reduce timelines, and create an energy-efficient envelope while maximizing use of the constrained site.
ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY
This three-story replacement school will serve 900 students on a site where existing educational facilities will remain operational throughout construction.
By implementing permanent off-site construction techniques, we minimize disruption to daily educational activities while significantly accelerating the project timeline.
The building envelope utilizes energy-efficient ICF (insulated concrete forms), and the exterior features a complementary combination of brick veneer, split-face CMU, and cementitious siding.
This approach allowed us to successfully navigate the challenging site constraints, including protected stream buffers and steep slopes.
STUDENT-CENTERED DESIGN FEATURES
The school’s design prioritizes student experience with dedicated outdoor play areas for kindergarten, primary, and intermediate grades, plus a special courtyard adjacent to pre-k classrooms.
Inside, instructional spaces feature energy-efficient windows and strategic storefront windows that create views from collaborative areas throughout the building.
Community-focused spaces include a cafeteria, gymnasium, and dedicated program areas. The gymnasium/cafetorium incorporates translucent insulated panels, providing natural light without the glare that can interfere with activities.