Thor Heinrichs Architect
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The garden at the center of Field School, ringed by timber classrooms and a covered walkway
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05 — Education · Green Cove Springs, FL

Field School

A ring-shaped elementary school around a central garden, with every classroom opening onto it.

Location
Green Cove Springs, FL
Completed
2021
Gross floor area
22,600 sq ft
Sector
Education
Scope
Architecture, landscape
Stage
Completed

(The brief)

A new elementary school on the edge of farmland, where learning outside would be part of every day rather than an occasional field trip.

(The constraints)

An open, exposed site, a program that had to be delivered in a single phase, and strict energy targets.

(Our response)

Classrooms form a single ring around a sheltered garden. Children move between rooms under a covered walkway, and every room has a door straight onto the garden. The ring keeps circulation short and the building easy to supervise.

(Photographs & drawings)

Show
The garden at the center of Field School, ringed by timber classrooms and a covered walkway
PLAYING FIELD CLASS 7KITCHENNURSERYENTRANCESTAFFCLASS 1CLASS 2CLASS 3CLASS 4HALLCLASS 5CLASS 6 GARDENCOVERED WALKWAY AA N020 m GROUND FLOOR22,600 SQ FT
Fig. 1Plan. Rooms, routes and how the building sits on its site.
Light
GARDENCLASSROOMCLASSROOM NORTHSOUTH CROSS-VENTILATION21 JUN · NOON · 83°MIDSUMMERThe walkway roof shades the glass;air crosses each classroom.21 DEC · NOON · 37°MIDWINTERWinter sun crosses the garden intothe north-side classrooms. DUSKAfter-school clubs: the ringglows around the dark garden. SECTION A–AAcross the ring and garden
Fig. 2Section A–A. Noon sun at 30°N: 83° at midsummer, 37° at midwinter. Switch the light to see each state.
01Cypress cladding, 1 in02Furring and ventilated cavity, 2 in03Wood-fiber sheathing board, 2½ in04Wood-fiber insulation, 8 in05Cross-laminated timber panel, 5 in06Clay plaster, 1 in07Oak floor on insulated slab08Rammed-earth plinth, 18 in09Grade, 6 in below finished floorEXTERNAL WALLTimber wall on a rammed-earth plinth · not to scale
Fig. 3Detail. How the main materials meet.

(Performance)

Site energy use
19 kBtu/ft²/yr
Embodied carbon
280 kgCO2e/m²
Airtightness
0.4 ACH50
Cooling
Ground-source heat pumps

(Materials)

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