Client:
Denver Public Schools
Project Description: The project included
master planning and other landscape architecture services
for the Smith Renaissance School of the Arts. The Master Plan
embodied design ideas from our workshops with the children,
from meetings with teachers, and from neighborhood and school
community data. The final plan was designed to reinforce curriculum,
stimulate imagination, speak to self and world, and to provide
a community park.
Conceptual Plan: As a School of the Arts,
Smith espouses that each student achieve personal development
and a higher academic level through active involvement with
the arts. Colorfully and creatively integrated murals, art
pieces, and a perspective grid emphasize the arts in the new
campus. A second dominant design element is relationship of
self to the world. Multiple nodes along the "Being Walk"
exemplify self-awareness and community connection. This metaphoric
element is thoughtfully articulated to demonstrate the relationship
of self to the larger society, encouraging empathy and respect
for self and others.A perspective grid, compass rose, U.S.
map, fractional devises, and sight word wall stimulate appreciation
for art as well as for traditional academic development. These
experiential learning elements create an atmosphere that unites
knowledge and fun in learning. Traditional play equipment
and park furnishings complete the design to function both
for the school and neighborhood users.
Results: The Master Plan was used for grant
writing, fundraising, and building community interest. Momentum
created by the Master Plan led to full funding, through public
and private sources, and actualization of our school campus
design. The project was completed summer, 2002.
