Teton Valley School Earns 2009 Open Architecture Challenge Top Honors
Teton Valley Community School (TVCS) in Victor, Idaho received international recognition and $50,000 as the winning school in the 2009 Open Architecture Challenge. Sponsored by Architecture for Humanity, the competition invited the design community to collaborate with school children in a global effort to create smarter, safer and more sustainable learning environments. Architect Emma Adkisson and designer Nathan Gray worked with students, faculty and parents at TVCS to design energy efficient classrooms that inspire a deeper understanding of both the built and natural environments.
More than 1,000 design teams from 65 countries registered for the competition. Each design was rated on feasibility, sustainability and innovation in the learning environment. The pool was narrowed down to the top 50 entries by a diverse team of online jurors. Eight finalists were selected at the 2009 Aspen Ideas Festival in July. Teton Valley Community School was announced as the top award winner during a back to school assembly in September.
“They [Teton Valley Community School] focused on environmental issues and community engagement, which is what we want other schools to learn from and explore how they can adapt and use these ideas,” said Sandhya Naidu of Architecture for Humanity.
Many schools around the world share the facility constraints faced by TVCS. Operating out of classrooms converted from residential use, lack of space and a growing enrollment all limit potential learning opportunities. The winning classroom design provides cost-effective teaching spaces and extends the learning environment beyond the four walls of the classroom. The mechanical room, a component normally closed from view, can be seen from the science lab allowing students to learn how heating and cooling systems function first hand.
Cindy Riegel, TVCS Board President said, “We are thrilled about this opportunity to build a facility to match our philosophy and provide a dynamic educational center for our community.”
The master plan for the TVCS campus includes the addition of five classroom units interconnected with bridges, gardens and natural play areas. Flexible interior configurations let teachers design age-appropriate settings for the students while accommodating a diversity of community uses. Attached greenhouses compliment the school’s existing farm and garden program and help heat the classrooms during the winter months.
Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2010. Curriculum will be created around the building process so students can participate and learn from it. The new classrooms will serve as a model for how to design and build schools that support innovative education, student achievement, ecological health and community collaboration.
TVCS is a nonprofit independent school serving preschool through eighth grade students in a supportive learning environment that honors individuals and promotes a strong sense of community. At TVCS, children are actively involved in their learning and are encouraged to ask questions, solve problems, pursue their interests and express themselves creativity.
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