La Luz Elementary School
Albuquerque Public Schools
Kindergarten Addition


Kindergarten Entrance	Atrium

Kindergarten Elevation

In addition to addressing the needs and desires of the children and teachers at La Luz Elementary School, the Design Plus team created an innovative design that provided solutions for many of the site-related challenges. These included a small site, on and off-site traffic circulation problems, noise inherent to the major intersection, concerns over child safety from nearby residents and the community, and a significant change in elevation between the existing and proposed buildings.

The new Kindergarten Addition included a computer lab and five classrooms which form the perimeter around an atrium space; creating a fan-shaped layout where the classrooms step down incrementally to transition the 2’-10” change in elevation from the existing building to the new building. The Atrium multi functions as circulation between the new and existing building and as a commons space for the student sing-a longs, group storytelling and hands-on activities, as well as for night events for the community. This efficient use of space resulted in overall cost reductions and the incorporation of a small common computer lab and stage area in this atrium space [which was beyond the original scope of work].

Classroom