Compass School - Collaborative Design
Located in Westminster, Vermont, the Compass School reached out to our class for an addition onto their existing school. The school needed a dedicated art studio space and better building and site circulation as well.
Rendering using SketchUp
Presentation Boards
Rendering using SketchUp
Design Work
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Our main design work included creating a 800 sq ft studio space for the arts that held 30 students. While creating this design we also implemented a simple roof form that allowed efficient drainage. A traditional school house cupola above the lobby allows natural daylight into the studio space, "big room" and lobby area. Windows in the art space and cupola produce cold season solar gain, taking advantage of low winter sun angles to heat the building. In the summer, roof overhangs block the high sun angles from overheating the building. Additional design work included creating bigger office spaces for faculty and revamping the existing circulation path. Finally, we created a convenient covered "bus stop" outside the studio in which students can wait under the covered space during rainy and cold weather.
New parking layout and landscaping, bus pull around loop, circular grass loop can serve outdoor event space area,
New parking layout and landscaping, bus pull around loop, circular grass loop can serve outdoor event space area,
Site Work
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When driving in Westminster Vermont, it is easy to drive by the hidden tucked away Compass School located in a valley beside Rt 5. Our goal was to change that with better signage, and better aesthetic appeal from the road. The site itself needed improvement, since there was discrepancy between parking and site due to it being a dirt lot. We also highlighted several spaces that could be used for outdoor classrooms, especially the long forgotten pond out back, and an area that could serve as a sculpture garden. The existing teachers parking lot would be relocated to the front main parking area in exchange for a small soccer field space.