2009 Open Architecture Competition winners announced

2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Challenge Winner

Teton Valley Community School Location: Victor, Idaho, USA Designed by: Section Eight [design]

The 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom invited the global design and construction community to collaborate with primary and secondary school teachers and students to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable learning environments.

The Teton Valley Community School (TVCS) is a non-profit independent school located in Victor, Idaho. At the base of the Teton Mountain range, Victor is 6,200 feet above sea level and is a quickly developing alpine area. The town’s eclectic mix of pioneer families and new residents from around the globe exemplify Victor’s unique history and diversity.

TVCS’s master plan is to eventually build five of the proposed classroom buildings. The design allows for flexibility in their spacing and construction. The classroom buildings can be either site built or prefabricated in two modules that can be shipped to the site. The design objectives were to create flexible spatial configurations, reduce the school’s ecological footprint, and create a strong connection to the outdoors in response to the mountain climate.

Excepting the vegetable garden areas, the landscaping will incorporate native, drought resistant vegetation to reduce required irrigation. Zen rock gardens will be created using stones removed from the building sites during excavation. Perviousness will be promoted on the site by the use of pavers with grass and sand infill for the parking and pathway areas. Play areas will utilize the natural site features like trees, rocks, and berms.

OTHER WINNERS

Founders Award School: The Corporación Educativa y Social Waldorf, Bogota, Colombia Design Team: Arquitectura Justa, Bogota, Colombia

Rural Classroom Addition School: Building Tomorrow Academy,Wakiso and Kiboga, Uganda Design Team: Gifford LLP, London, United Kingdom

Relocatable Classroom Design School: Druid Hills High School (DeKalb County School System), Atlanta, Georgia Design Team: Perkins + Will, Atlanta, United States

Urban Classroom Upgrade School: Rumi School of Excellence, Hyderabad, India Design Team: IDEO

SOURCE: 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom

IMAGES SOURCE: 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom