Page 21 - Winter_2020

Addition to Kimball Elementary School. Photo © Anne Chan

Kimball Elementary: Project: Kimball Elementary School Renovation
An Oasis of Learning and Addition,
3375 Minnesota Avenue, SE, Washington, DC
Like Murch, Kimball Elementary serves pre-K through 5th
grade and was built as one of the city’s “extensible” school Architects/Landscape Architects/Interior Designers: Hord Coplan Macht
buildings. The original building was constructed in 1941 with Structural Engineers: SK&A
one extension in 1949 and another in 1966. The 1941 building MEP Engineers: Global Engineering Solutions
was retained, but the two later additions were demolished to Civil Engineers: Bowman Consulting
Construction Manager/Design-Builder: MCN Build
make way for a new wing. The new construction more than
doubles the space of the historic and now renovated building.
However, in important ways, the two schools are different. One way of creating this oasis was through biophilic
Kimball is a much smaller school—the new building can design. Lund explained his firm’s involvement in AIA-funded
accommodate 460 students—and while Murch is in one of research on how school design can impact student well-being.
the most affluent parts of the city, Kimball is in one of its Biophilic design seeks to reconnect the individual to the natural
most underserved. world. Abundant and dynamic daylight, access to the outdoors,
Again like Murch, Kimball had its own pedagogical views to greenery, and a variety of cues evoking the natural
identity and specific goals for its new school. Kimball offers a elements of earth, air, fire, and water all feature in the biophilic
complete STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and approach to the built world. According to the architect, studies
Math) program for all grades with a curriculum emphasizing indicate that student stress decreases and academic achievement
connections to the natural world. It also had security concerns. increases in biophilic environments.
Parents wanted the school, which is located in Southeast In creating its oasis, the design team began by organizing
Washington on busy Minnesota Avenue with lots of traffic the new wing around a central courtyard. The wing contains
and a nearby bus stop, to create a safe place for their children. the classrooms, the new gymnasium/auditorium, and cafeteria,
“We took every opportunity to make coming to school a good while the administrative offices and art and music facilities are
experience for everyone,” said project architect Paul Lund, the housed in the historic building. Classrooms are grouped by
Hord Coplan Macht principal who also worked on the Murch grade level with the youngest children on the lowest level and
modernization. “What came out of the engagement with the older ones on the upper two levels.
school and community was that they wanted Kimball to be a The courtyard itself functions as a protected outdoor
protected oasis of learning.” learning and gardening space and is closely tied to the school’s

SCHOOLS ON A MISSION 19