Morris Grove Elementary School

Due to the successful design and implementation of Rashkis Elementary School, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools elected to reuse the school plan to develop Morris Grove Elementary School six years later. Located on a network of sidewalks and greenways, the school is easily accessible for students on foot or bicycle. From the outset of the project, natural day lighting was considered an essential design feature. The building was oriented to maximize the day lighting potential in classrooms, media center, gymnasium and cafeteria. Shed dormers were employed to allow daylight to penetrate deep into the spaces, while acoustical baffles reflect and distribute the diffused light around the rooms.