Page 47 - Spring_2018

ArchDC Spring 2018.qxp_Fall 2017 2/22/18 9:12 AM Page 45

Photo © Joseph Romeo
Courtesy Perkins Eastman Gymnasium of Watkins Elementary. Photo © Joseph Romeo Courtesy Perkins Eastman
the design,” said Sean O’Donnell, FAIA, LEED AP, the driveway on a crosswalk with a stop sign—it was
Perkins Eastman DC’s principal-in-charge for the project. effectively like crossing a street. The new design situates the
“First and foremost, we wanted to transform the obsolete, gym and the cafeteria right on the edge of the park. Views
double-loaded, [academic part of the] building into a sus- between the two are unobstructed, and children can now
tainable, high-performance learning environment.” walk out of the building straight onto the field. The conflict
Accordingly, the project gutted and completely renovated between the children and the cars has been removed.”
the school’s 60,380-square-foot academic wing, convert- “The third goal was to enhance the school’s civic
ing its double-loaded arrangement—with small class- presence,” he said. “In the original design, the four-story
rooms on either side of long, institutional-looking hall- classroom wing dominated the public perception of the
way—into a single-loaded scheme, with larger and more school. The school’s front door was dark and hard to find,
modern classrooms and support spaces located on one as it was recessed behind the multipurpose room. And
side of a new and more spacious hall. while the multipurpose wing was closest to Pennsylvania
“Classrooms—now 35% larger compared to classrooms Avenue and to the park behind the school, and was the
in the previous double-loaded configuration—are pro- most public space in the building, it didn’t respond to
portioned to accommodate multiple teaching modes and either frontage and was perceptually hidden from view.”
have brightly colored entrance ‘porches’ off the corridor,” In support of this third goal, the renovation demolished
O’Donnell said. “Shared ‘commons’ spaces feature playful the school’s functionally obsolete, 10,253-square-foot,
furniture that can be arranged in many configurations single-story multipurpose space and replaced it with a new,
for breakout learning and group activities outside more open and light-filled support wing. With 26,338
the classroom.” square feet of space on two levels, the new wing better
The second goal, O’Donnell said, “was to integrate the engages the neighborhood visually, and is zoned to allow
school into the adjacent DC Parks and Recreation facility after-hours community use. “The addition is dramatic
and playing field. They both occupied the same block, inside and out,” O’Donnell said. “With large windows and
but vehicular circulation and service had cut the building views, it connects the school to the park and creates a new
off from the fields and playground. Children had to cross civic presence for the school at the front door on 12th Street.”

REFRESHER COURSE 45