Myra Terwilliger Elementary School

Alachua County Public Schools

Terwilliger Elementary School is designed to be a sustainable and energy-efficient building that prioritizes student learning and community access. The academic environment incorporates collaborative learning areas, flexible modern spaces, and state-of-the-art technology. An abundance of natural light and views to the outdoors foster a positive environment and contribute to the overall health and well-being of students and staff.

The classrooms are also designed to be easily reconfigured in rows for traditional instruction or in groups for collaborative learning to accommodate a variety of learning modalities. Thoughtful consideration was given to the adjacent residential community by providing pedestrian access for students who walk to school, while also bolstering the physical connection from the school to the community.
“A playful palette offers a youthful and vibrant learning environment. Unique coloration and patterning was used in each learning quadrant to assist with wayfinding.”
Ekta P. Desai, AIA, Partner / Design Lead
Designed for maximum flexibility, core spaces are located along the front of the school for easy after-hours access by the community.
As a Green Globes school, the design embraces a variety of sustainable and wellness principles. The east-west orientation minimizes heat gain and maximizes shading to reduce energy consumption. Other sustainable features include bi-polar ionization HVAC air filtering to minimize use of exterior make-up air and low-E glazing.
Serving as a fine arts magnet school in the district, creative spaces were prioritized in the program. The art labs feature ample daylight and flexible furniture to encourage creativity and exploration.
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Cross Prairie K-8 School

School District of Osceola County

Cross Prairie K-8 School embraces a design that prioritizes high performance, energy efficiency, and a compact footprint that optimizes both space and function. Inspired by the geometry of origami, the three-story structure layers vibrant forms to evoke movement and spatial interplay. Each level is thoughtfully composed to align with student progression, creating innovative environments that nurture exploration, growth and creativity as learners advance through each stage.

The classroom wing is designed to support students' growth as they progress through the school. Unified through thoughtful design, the K-8 building is anchored by a dedicated EHPA wing housing the gymnasium, locker rooms, dining areas, and food preparation spaces.
“To create an active and colorful experience, the design philosophy for this structure drew inspiration from the intricacies of origami, observed through the lens of a young girl at play. ”
Ekta P. Desai, AIA, Partner / Design Lead
Central to the educational experience, the media center opens into a maker space designed to foster hands-on exploration and project-based learning, cultivating creativity and innovation. Adaptive, modular furnishings enable the space to transform fluidly, supporting individual study, small group collaboration, or lecture-style instruction, reinforcing the building’s dynamic and student-centered design.
The campus layout prioritizes safety for both students and the community by clearly delineating bus and parent drop-off zones. The canopy’s curvature extends the origami-inspired language of the school, introducing a sense of movement that complements the building’s layered geometry.
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