The building placement on the site takes advantage of both the natural beauty and the educational opportunities offered by the forested campus. Classroom wings are joined by a social hub where students can gather for lunch or special events.

The design concept treats classroom spaces as cabins in the woods, bringing the forest through the building and blurring the lines between inside and out. Using wood as a driving element throughout the design, the building not only connects to its surroundings but also sequesters carbon and supports local timber industry. Glulam beams and columns accent special points throughout the building, and Black Locust – a hardwood grown in the U.S. – replaces tropical hardwoods that would have otherwise contributed to deforestation.

A lively single-loaded corridor provides informal social learning along with the “HUB,” a central gathering space, both being accented by large operable windows.

In order to celebrate the building’s position above a significant natural watershed, rainwater runoff is emphasized on its journey down the building, under the forest trail, and into a stormwater pond. This visual expression of stormwater management will be used as a teaching tool, further connecting the building and students to the natural environment.

This configuration provides ample daylight and a connection to the landscape while simultaneously allowing cross-ventilation to occur naturally. Likewise, a 3-inch concrete topping slab acts as a solar heat-sink, passively regulating internal temperatures and reducing the need to electrically heat the space.

The project improves connectivity among the whole campus with the creation of a pedestrian street, amphitheater, outdoor dining facilities, and a new trailhead deck leading to forested trails.