Design work done on new Warm Springs K-8 school

BBT Architects announced Tuesday they have completed a schematic design for the new Warm Springs K-8 school.

The 60-acre site for the school is located on the Warm Springs Reservation. The design process was a collaborative and community effort involving numerous stakeholders, ensuring a design that will meet the needs of the students of Warm Springs, as well as the community.

The 80,000-square-foot, single-story school will include three classroom pods with nine classrooms each, clustered around breakout learning spaces. A fourth pod was designed to house athletics and commons/cafeteria functions.

The four pods will be connected by a common “street,” housing spaces that will be used by staff and students.

The design of the building includes a modern interpretation of traditional gabled roofs, wood columns and clerestory windows, and will be integrated onto the site without overpowering the natural beauty of the reservation, the architects said.

Each learning space will include views of Mt. Jefferson, the Palisade Cliffs and surrounding bluffs, or the learning courtyards — all providing a direct connection with the environment.

Durable exterior materials will be softened with rich wood accents at each of the building’s entries. Colors of the school will reflect the warm earth tones of the site and surrounding bluffs.

Future expansion opportunities will be provided to allow the addition of classrooms, as well as a second gymnasium.

Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion anticipated prior to fall of 2014.