Client: Creative Montessori School

Primary School and Administration Building

Creative Montessori School, located in Homewood, Alabama, is a private Montessori school with highly regarded toddler, preschool, and elementary education programs. The school sought to develop a master plan that more appropriately reflected its educational goals and its future plans for growth.  Phase One of the master plan, shown here, includes the renovation of an existing 2500 SF library building and the construction of a new 14,000 SF preschool building.  The project fortifies the school’s mission of “Loving Learning, Growing Leaders, Teaching Excellence” by focusing on the needs of the students and providing adequate resources for the teachers and staff.

Four new preschool classrooms and two new toddler classrooms, each complete with in-classroom restrooms and kitchenettes, open onto outdoor learning areas with direct access to classroom gardens and play areas. Resource areas, including a library to house the school’s book collection, a language and art classroom, and a multi-purpose room, support the Montessori teaching method and allow for greater community engagement.  New landscaping elements, including new play equipment, an outdoor gathering area, and a dry creek bed, further facilitate hands-on learning within a unique physical environment.

 

AWARDS

AIA Birmingham Design Awards, Honor Award, 2018

 

Master Plan

Creative Montessori School is a pre-K thru 8th grade school whose mission is “Love. Learn. Lead.” The school’s campus had occupied a 1950’s office building. The master plan stakeholder engagement process revealed the critical need to upgrade the preschool building, enhance security and engage the interior spaces with outdoor spaces. The new 14,000 SF building creates and edge to the campus, facing the classrooms to the interior. The existing library building is re-purposed as the main entry for the campus. Future phases include upgrades to the elementary building and construction of a new gymnasium.

Gymnasium

A new gymnasium anchors the west edge of this campus completing the masterplan and fortifying the school’s mission of “Loving Learning, Growing Leaders, Teaching Excellence” by focusing on the needs of the students and providing adequate resources for the teachers and staff. The old gym nearby is renovated into an Erdkinder space and multi-use classrooms.