Camden-Rockport Elementary School

Rockport, Maine     2009

Camden-Rockport's elementary school addition/renovation combines three school populations on a very tight site. In order to save as much greenspace as possible for playfields, the plan required three stories arranged around dramatic public spaces-lobby, library, and gymnasium/cafeteria. The school has a high-performance envelope with extra roof and wall insulation, a heat recovery system, radiant floors, CO2 monitors and a geothermal system for heating and cooling. Interior finishes include low-VOC paints, recyclable carpeting, linoleum, and biocomposite materials. Views to the woods and fields maintain a constant reference to the natural world, which is also the basis for the color palette and interior design. Daylight harvesting is everywhere: classroom teaching bays have clerestory windows over the whiteboards, and public spaces are illuminated by high windows and skylights. The exterior honors local white-trimmed architecture with a traditional brick base and the colors of a sea captain's house.

Alan G. Kuniholm