Architect: EVOKE Studio Architecture

Location: Durham, NC

This new community beacon is a fusion of the 21^st-century learning goals outlined by Durham Public Schools and the wooded, hilly site.  The interwoven relationship between the natural and built environment permeates the project.  The 800-student school is organized around a courtyard to maintain a compact footprint, take advantage of the site’s topography, and foster community.  This organization tailors the building's scale to young students and promotes indoor-outdoor connections. Learning commons anchor each building corner and encourage learning outside the classroom.  A bridge housing shared programs spans the courtyard’s eastern edge and creates a gateway to the woods.