LAVALAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The design is inspired by the school's namesake and emulates lava as it breaks ground. Lavaland Elementary first opened in 1946 and is centered in Albuquerque's West Mesa neighborhood. Surrounded by homes at the center of the neighborhood, the school has not received any significant upgrades since the 90s and has been stagnant prior. The new building at Lavaland Elementary replaces the old administrative offices and major support spaces including the gymnasium, kitchen, cafeteria, library, and art and music classroom. Site planning and phasing were carefully considered and coordinated to assure the campus would remain open and safe during construction.

The school has a long history and is a cornerstone of its community. A construction superintendent on the project happened to attend Lavaland as a child and shared stories of the school back in his day. The superintendent also noted that they received many reports of police being called by neighbors and students who were trying to stop a break-in or vandalism during the construction of the new building. The project was a great success thanks to the community and all who were invested in the development of the project. Now, the community and those who lent a hand in the success of the new building take great pride in its presence in the neighborhood.

The design is sustainable in its use of natural light but also in its shading solution with a large roof overhang and custom, cost-effective shade structures. The gym features a durable plywood climbing wall while the art room is flexible and able to host both music and fine arts classes. The roof is also host to a 375 solar panel array which helps to provide electrical power to the building.