Project information
New construction 67,000 sf; addition to existing 17,000-sf building
Grades pre-K-4, 500 students
Completed 2009
Rockport, ME
Camden-Rockport's elementary school addition/renovation combines three school populations on a very tight site. In order to save as much green space 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 was an organizing design principle: classroom teaching bays have clerestory windows over the whiteboards, and public spaces are illuminated by high windows and skylights.
Photo credit: © Sandy Agrafiotis