SITE ANALYSIS

Legend

SUN PATTERN STREET NOISE

Location

2301 E Park Row Dr, Arlington, TX 76010

Thorton Elementary is located in the suburbs of Arlington, Texas. Located at the center of this neighboorhood provides maultiple access points for pick up and drop off.

Client Profile

Thornton currently serves a diverse community with the school’s minority student enrollment at 96.2%. The school also enrolls 91% of economically disadvantaged students. It is important to preserve their decades-old spirit and multiculturalism love. Thornton will accommodate and support all students based on current and future programs and align with the pedagogical strategies of Arlington Independent School District.

The Concept

The overall concept for the project is to highlight social and emotional well-being while creating a place that embodies an inclusive learning environment. Using evidence-based design, creating dynamic spaces of discovery, engagement, and collaboration that reflect the district’s goals and values. At its core, the design follows four guiding principles: Design for Well-being, Pedagogical Design, Inclusion and Equity, and Biophilic Design.

Research Topics

DESIGN FOR WELL-BEING

How can we offer better support for educators during these post-pandemic times?

Good design supports health and well-being for all people, considering physical, mental, and emotional effects on building occupants and the surrounding community.

Pedagogical Design

How can the built environment address the goals and needs of the school district’s curriculum?

Pedagogy is the study of teaching and how the content is presented to students. Pedagogical design integrates design research with the school’s pedagogy to achieve desired educational outcomes.

INCLUSION & EQUITY

How can the design remove barriers and promote inclusion and social equity, particularly in vulnerable communities?

The U.S. has a history of underserving BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students. The U.S. discontinued federally mandated segregated learning spaces just over 60 years ago, and many barriers still exist to closing the achievement gap between white and BIPOC students.

Biophilic Design

How can design strategies informed by concepts in biophilia address the health and well-being of students and learning outcomes?

Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. Biophilic-designed buildings incorporate things like natural lighting, natural landscape features, and other elements for creating a more productive and healthier built environment for people.