Cary Elementary School

Image Cary Elementary School

Location
Cary, NC

Date
2003

 

DTW Architects designed this 52,000 SF addition to an existing elementary school. Due to the tight 16-acre urban site and the location of existing buildings, the main part of the addition is positioned to create a new presence on a major road leading into downtown. DTW used this two-story addition to its advantage in creating the building façade, with varying heights, brick colors and tilework. The addition also has a light-filled lobby and major corridor that serves to organize both interior and exterior circulation. The new building incorporates numerous sustainable design principles, and was featured as a case study for Triangle J High Performance Guidelines.

The school’s Master Plan was developed in cooperation with parents, students, teachers, administrators and neighbors during a series of community meetings, and allowed for future use of the adjacent historic high school building to be used by the Town of Cary. The addition included classrooms, media center, cafeteria and administrative offices, and its placement created courtyard playground areas. Renovated areas included classrooms and a gymnasium. Site improvements included new bus and parent drop-offs, visitor parking and a bioretention pond.
Sustainable features include daylighting, recycled building products and use of FSC Certified wood products.