5015 N. PIERCE PARK LN.

BOISE, IDAHO

Project Credits

Client:    Independent School District of Boise City No. 1

Design Team:    SLICHTER UGRIN ARCHITECTURE    Gregory A. Ugrin  AIA NCARB SBA  Architect of Record  +  Principal in Charge,    Project Team,    Brett P. Gulash  RA NCARB LEED AP,    John A. Day  AIA NCARB,    Jeffrey J. Geibel,    Antone Steele,    Andrew K. Bick  AIA NCARB,    Steve Thornton    Consultants:    ERICKSON CIVIL    Civil Engineer,    STACK ROCK GROUP    Landscape Architect,    STRUCTURAL EDGE    Structural Engineer,    MUSGROVE ENGINEERING    Mechanical Engineer,    E2Co.    Electrical Engineer,    Construction:    ENGINEERED STRUCTURES, INC.    Construction Management

Completed:    2020

Recognition:    ENR Mountain States 2021 Intermountain Best Projects K-12 Education for the States of Idaho, Montana, and Utah,    Idaho Business Review Top Projects 2021 Best Public Project

Photography:    Gregory A. Ugrin Copyright

A Facilities Audit in 2016 where Pierce Park Elementary ranked as the fourth worst elementary school for Utilization.  It was determined that a new school at the PPES site was critical.  The new 49,700 SF replacement school supports an enrollment of 400+ students Grades K-6.

Project Goals:

• Identity different from other replacement elementary schools being designed in this Capital Improvements Bond.

• Be Community focused.

• Inspire Learning.

• Fit contextually within it’s neighborhood.

• Flexible and adaptable instructional spaces.

• High spatial utilization.

The school’s design parti is based on Next-Century Learning Environment Models.  Modern technologies and tools are paired with simple, flexible classrooms that reinforce collaborative and individual learning opportunities.  The interior circulation doubles as flexible learning areas in the open with small tables and chairs including breakout flex rooms for group collaboration and individual instruction.  This circulation/flexible way is wide and meandering allowing for clear vision, areas for privacy, and discovery.  The use of natural daylight harvesting paired with large window openings at instructional spaces and two large overhead light monitors flood the interior environments with light that enhances teaching strategies giving students additional opportunities for success, along with offering discovery within distinctive areas of the school.  The floor plan arrangement is derived from planning components for learning environments paired with BSD program requirements.

The two-story ‘L’ shape plan evolved from the requirement of working within existing parameters the site, existing school, street frontage, clear access, and security.  It is a model for other schools to follow.  This design also has been master planned for future expansion if enrollment grows to add 8 to 10 classrooms.