Page 30 - Winter_2020

It Takes a Village
It Takes a Village

School and Grounds Modernization

Revives History and Nature

by Steven K. Dickens, AIA, LEED AP

Prior to its recent modernization, completed in December 2018, Project: Garrison Elementary School Renovation
Garrison Elementary School was a poster child for the neglect and Landscape,
of public facilities in the city. In 2012, a group of neighbors 1200 S Street, NW, Washington, DC
approached the Washington Architecture Foundation (WAF)
seeking help through the WAF’s Community Design Services Architects: Newman Architects, PC (design); BELL Architects, PC
program. Their goal was to generate public interest and political (architects of record)
support for improvements to the school grounds and building. Landscape Architects: Landscape Architecture Bureau, LLC
A notice seeking pro bono services was placed in the AIA|DC Civil Engineers: Wiles Mensch Corporation
Public Art Consultants: After Architecture; Davis McCarty; Valerie
newsletter and caught the eye of Steven Orlansky, AIA, LEED Theberge; Vinnie Bagwell
AP, a principal of Newman Architects. Landscape Consultants: W.H. Boyer, Inc.
Knowing that landscape design would be important to the Playgrounds/Field Consultants: HGRM Corporation
effort, Orlansky recruited Jonathan Fitch, ASLA, of Landscape Contractor: GCS | Sigal
Architecture Bureau (LAB), to assist.
The architects and landscape architects led interested venture to execute the project. At this point, the architects
teachers and community members in a “visioning” process. and key members of the community group took part in the
After several months of progress, they facilitated a series of DCPS “SIT” (School Improvement Team”) program. Basic goals
larger community sessions in multiple languages. The group included facilities improvements for the school’s 350 students
was “multicultural, multiethnic, and multigenerational,” and faculty and community use of facilities during non-school
according to Fitch. Accordingly, the community was well- hours. But the visioning process also yielded some unusual
positioned for successful resistance when the DC Public goals specific to the site, notably the resuscitation of a piece of
Schools (DCPS) slated Garrison for permanent closure a couple Washington’s Civil War history.
of years later.
DCPS changed course and decided to renovate Garrison
instead. Newman joined with BELL Architects to form a joint

The renovated main entrance to Garrison Elementary School.
Note the mosaic-covered boulders on the porch.

The entrance before renovation.

28 IT TAKES A VILLAGE Photo ©
Photo © Newman Architects Tom Holdsworth