live ›› in lovely spaces
ceilings, bright, airy classrooms with glass walls, and faux clouds lining the hallways give the nearly 160,000-square-foot space a whimsical feeling, as if children are strolling through a dream. Mountain Valley Elementary, another Green Valley project meant to eliminate overcrowding, evokes comfort as students approach its lodge-inspired stone exterior. Upon entering the building, huge shapes on the walls, bright lights, and cozy reading spaces carry that sense of peace on throughout the school day. When designing Edgewood Elementary on Charleston’s west side, ZMM brought a similar whimsy to the table while challenging the appearance of the home of a traditional curriculum. Educators here work to swap many expected teaching practices in favor of a hands-on approach that lets students determine their educational exploration themselves, and the space supports that intention. Sliding doors customize the rooms’ sizes and shapes for whatever’s needed in the moment. Doors and furniture double as whiteboards to be written on. And the building’s impressive sustainability capabilities—rainwater capture, energy-efficient lights, solar power, recycling—themselves act as lessons. It’s uplifting when schools feel like sanctuaries, especially in a state where many students are economically disadvantaged. Families can rest assured that their children aren’t just safe within these walls ZMM has constructed—they’re also inspired. They’re challenged. They’re happy.
promotes a comfortable learning environment. bottom: Ravenswood Middle School addresses critical issues of walkability, student
safety, preservation, and efficiency. The media center allows natural light and views of the neighborhood.
top: Mountain Valley Elementary School is home to 400 students in grades pre-K to 5. The Read Wall is the centerpiece of the school ’s media center and
54 wvl • fall 2020
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online