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Rooftop play and gardening area over the cafeteria at Murch Elementary School. Photo © Ken Wyner, Ken Wyner Photography
opportunities.” Challenged with an addition larger The redesign of the site features native and adaptive
than the original structure, limited outdoor recreation plants, protection of existing heritage trees, and a
space, and a neighborhood determined to protect its storm water retention system that can recycle for either
school play areas, the design team maximized every irrigation or for underground storage. The advanced
square foot of outdoor space. Temporary classroom “R Tank” storm water system has a smaller footprint
trailers, dumpsters, and utility sheds were removed than older systems and frees up precious space for play
from the site as was a surface parking lot. Through areas. No potable water is used for landscape irrigation.
negotiations with the National Park Service, a parcel The historic building and the addition are tied
of land on the north end of the site that had once been together with a new high-efficiency HVAC system, low-
part of Fort Circle Park was added to the school’s play flow plumbing, and wood that comes from responsibly
area. “At the end, through the cooperation of the Park managed forests. Daylight and occupancy sensors and
Service, we ended up with just about as much outdoor timer switches with manual overrides all help control
recreation space as existed before construction of the lighting and reduce energy consumption.
addition,” said McGhee. “There was a school and community here to
With an education program that values a preserve,” said McGhee. “My daughter went to Murch,
connection to nature and indoor/outdoor learning, the so while I was the architect, I was also a Murch parent
pre-K and kindergarten classes have direct access to myself and it was probably a little easier to build trust
an open-air learning courtyard, as well as a bird and with neighbors and parents. They knew we were on
butterfly pollinator garden, a labyrinth, and a school their side.”
farm with raised planting beds, which sit on top of the The architect recalled that just after Mayor Muriel
green cafeteria roof. An extensive rain garden and Bowser’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony he was
bioretention system surround the site. There are sports chatting with colleagues near the cafeteria. “A few kids
fields, imaginative climbing structures, colorful furniture, seeing the new school for the first time came running
and space for quiet chats as well as exuberant play. down the stairs. When they saw the light, the colors,
The Murch School modernization incorporates the and the space they just started yelling ‘awesome!’ and
environmentally sustainable materials, technologies, ‘amazing!’ Those are the moments that make these
and practices necessary for its LEED Gold certification. school projects feel so worthwhile.”

18 SCHOOLS ON A MISSION