Western Hills Elementary School

The Western Hills Elementary School is a replacement school located on the existing school site. The two-level school is situated in a residential neighborhood on nine acres with a large green space to the east. The green space serves as an open play field for the 600 preschool-5th grade students.  

All classrooms have access to natural daylight and outdoor views. Outdoor learning areas, learning corridors and multiple break-out spaces were incorporated throughout the building to facilitate collaborative learning. The facility is equipped with both a passenger and a freight elevator and the kitchen is a satellite working and serving kitchen, with the cafeteria area doubling as a storm shelter.  

The site and building separate buses and cars to increase student safety. The drive on the south side of the building can hold up to 16 buses and the parking lot accommodates 104 vehicles. Entrances on the north and south side are connected by a circulation spine which serves as a focal feature. The building exterior is comprised of masonry and metal panels.