In this episode, we explore the unique "neighborhood" design of the new Gilbert Elementary School, a project deeply rooted in its local context. Andrew shares a pivotal moment in the design process: observing how teachers and students maximized activity in an older building that was never intended for such high levels of movement. This realization led to a "seasonal" interior strategy where Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd-grade wings transition from Spring to Fall themes, specifically engineered to support play-based learning and multi-classroom collaboration. We also discuss how the school serves as a permanent community asset, featuring multi-use spaces like the gymnasium and commons designed for public use.
(Skyler): Welcome, everybody, to another episode of the Laying the Foundation podcast. My name is Skyler, and I'm your host. More importantly, today we have a very special guest: Andrew Miller from our Des Moines office. Andrew is one of our amazing architects there. Andrew, welcome to the show!
(Andrew): It's great to be here.
(Skyler): It’s great to have you. I think this is your first time on an episode, right?
(Andrew): It is, yeah.
(Skyler): Right on! Well, we’re excited to have you here to talk about a really cool project: Gilbert Elementary School in Gilbert, Iowa. First off, let’s start from the beginning. How did we get this project? Were we approached, or did we submit a bid? How did we end up with this?
(Andrew): This is actually a project we interviewed for. At that point, it was for master planning services. The district is growing rapidly and they knew they needed more space, but they weren't exactly sure how to tackle it or allocate their resources in the best manner. We got our foot in the door by interviewing for those master planning services. Through that process, we created a plan that ultimately led to this new elementary school project.
(Skyler): Right on. So, that master planning work led to something much larger. And this isn't even the full extent of the work we’ve been doing for Gilbert schools, is it?
(Andrew): No, there are actually six projects within the district.
(Skyler): Wow! So, we’ve essentially been involved across the whole campus. That’s really cool. For this episode, we’re focusing on the elementary school. You mentioned that 20% of the homes in Gilbert are in a direct path to the school district from their backyards. That’s a fifth of the homes in the area physically touching the school site. How did that affect the direction for the exterior design of the building, especially since it's so connected to the residents?
(Andrew): The 20% figure started anecdotally. When you step onto the existing site, you realize that you're looking right into someone’s backyard. We performed an exercise looking at historical satellite imagery to see how the town developed. We saw that it was intentional; the neighborhoods were built to encapsulate this site. Even newer neighborhoods are built around parks with paths connecting everything. It has that small-town feel where you can hop out your back door, jump on a bike path, and be at the school in a minute.
Once we realized how intentional that was, we decided to make it a feature of the exterior. We pulled in materials and colors to help the building fit in with the residential context. It’s so interwoven that we didn't want anything too flashy. We used wood and concrete tones and a lot of brick textures—materials you might see on the house next door. That’s how we designed the school’s exterior.
(Skyler): Keeping things consistent so it doesn’t feel out of place. It makes sense that the community would build itself around the school. As a parent, sending your kid to walk to school is a lot less nerve-wracking when it's basically through your backyard. That’s a nice feature.
(Andrew): It's unique to Gilbert. Many small towns have a similar feel, but not every district is as fortunate to have planned it out so well.
(Skyler): Were there any challenges building this new facility right next to the old one, while also having all those backyards in the picture?
(Andrew): We definitely had a lot of conversations regarding construction logistics. Luckily, we considered those during the design phase. Our biggest priority was ensuring that children were never in proximity to the construction site and that everything was handled safely. Some parts of the site, like the bike path, had to be temporarily shut down, but hopefully, the long-term benefit outweighs the inconvenience.
(Skyler): You mentioned making the school fit in, but did we do anything to help it stand out for those driving by?
(Andrew): We incorporated plenty of signage and used the school colors in the facade. We found ways to include their logos and colors so there is no mistake about what the building is.
(Skyler): Exactly. Signage is important for identification, whether it's healthcare or a school campus. You want people to find the right building while still matching the energy and hospitable tone of a Midwest town.
(Andrew): There’s a fine line. If you’re getting a new building, it should look like a new building. It should look forward-thinking to last the next fifty years, but without disrespecting the existing surroundings. It’s a healthy balance.
(Skyler): It’s cool to see how you juggle those areas through research into K-12 facilities. One thing we love to do is work with the staff. How did you work with the teachers to make this project better?
(Andrew): We had five to ten focus group meetings with teachers to understand their specific needs. One day early in the design process stands out to me. We had met with them a few times and developed a floor plan based on our understanding of their needs. We showed up for what we thought was a normal meeting, but it was their "Day of Play." They had abandoned traditional methodologies—students weren't just sitting in classrooms; they were rotating through different activities, running, and jumping in the hallways.
We had talked about how important activity was and how they used classrooms differently, but seeing it in reality made it real. We realized that if they can do all that in a building where the previous architect never dreamed of that level of activity, imagine what they could do in a building intentionally created for it. That experience was eye-opening and led to a better product.
(Skyler): That’s the best way to design—making it specific to the user. You mentioned a "seasonal concept." Can you tell me more about that?
(Andrew): Each grade has a similar layout where classrooms spill out into a central space designed for various activities. We wanted each grade’s "neighborhood" to offer a different experience so there’s a sense of progression as students move up. We challenged ourselves to make it more than just different colors or wayfinding tools; we wanted it to be an experience.
The building "grows" with the students. The youngest students are in the Spring wing, waiting to develop. As they get older, they move to Summer, where everything is in bloom. By second grade, they are in the Fall wing, ready to move on to a new school. It makes the experience unique for each grade.
(Skyler): I love the metaphor. It creates excitement for students to see where they’ll be next year. Were there spaces that brought all the seasons together?
(Andrew): That happens in the Media Center at the heart of the building. It’s a gathering hub for all grades. We have a mural with all four seasons and whimsical "trees" that carry over from the neighborhoods. It takes pieces from each neighborhood and combines them in that central hub.
(Skyler): How did you design those spaces to accommodate all that physical activity while balancing quiet time?
(Andrew): A lot of that is accomplished through furniture. We worked with a vendor to select furniture specifically catered to those active visions. Architecturally, our job is to remove obstacles. We ensure there is plenty of storage so rooms are easy to clean and reconfigure. We want it to be as flexible as possible for how they might use it ten years from now.
(Skyler): Right, planning for a future we can't fully foresee. How is the school used for the community's benefit after hours?
(Andrew): We ensured the building could serve both the community and other schools in the district. Right as you walk in, there is a public space for community events. We included a full-size gymnasium so the high school could use it for practice if needed. We were thoughtful about adjacencies early in the design so these public spaces could be used securely without people accessing private student areas or classrooms.
(Skyler): Maintaining that security while keeping it accessible and welcoming is a tricky juggle.
(Andrew): The sooner you think about it, the easier it is to enact. It's hard to rework those security features once the floor plans are already set.
(Skyler): What about the outdoor elements? You mentioned bike trails—how did the new facility enhance outdoor activity?
(Andrew): We upgraded the playground, which is a beloved part of the community. We’re giving it a facelift with new, safer slides while keeping the popular hill feature. Athletics are also huge in this community, so we worked to maintain and improve the ball fields and soccer areas for all ages.
(Skyler): It’s great that it enhances those spaces. So, when is the project set for completion?
(Andrew): It will be complete for the next school year.
(Skyler): What do you think students will be most excited about when they first walk in?
(Andrew): I think it will be those wide-open central spaces. Instead of traditional hallways, they have these presentation areas and a "whimsical tree" element with nooks and crannies for small group work. I’m excited to see what they can do with a building intentionally designed for them.
(Skyler): It sounds like a perfect fulfillment of their vision. Any final thoughts on the project?
(Andrew): It was an incredibly fun project. They were a dream client who wasn't afraid to push the envelope. That really elevated the final design. I’m proud of how it’s turning out and can’t wait to see it open this fall.
(Skyler): Andrew, thank you so much for taking the time to talk about this project. We're all excited to see it open!
(Andrew): Thanks, Skyler.