The new school volume was born as a solution to the space needs of the existing building, which derives from an increase in students. This new building is located next to the old one, and houses both classrooms and other common uses that will serve the primary school.
The final volume is the result of three conditioning factors. In the first place, the restricted urban planning ordinance, which limits the scope of action, on the other hand, the existing building, the need for a relationship between both volumes, and finally the large existing cedar on the plot.
The architectural solution results in a prism that closes the current C of the complex. The proposal proposes the circulation around the upper patio, in the cloister, relegating the classrooms to the exterior spaces, seeking a southwest orientation, and thus guaranteeing correct lighting of the training space.
The existing building had two evacuation stairs that did not meet the requirements of the regulations. The first decision at the programmatic distribution level was to relocate them to the new volume and use the space they occupied as connection points with the existing one. These new stairs, located at the ends of the volume, become, thanks to their color and their position on the façade, an important part of the image of the school.
Regarding the composition, it seeks to integrate the volume with the current building through the cornices and provide the new center with identity thanks to a second skin. This second outer skin, resolved through a modular metal structure, draws a geometric motif with vertical, horizontal, and inclined lines. These slats have different inclinations, promoting the visual richness and seeking the best sun protection conditions depending on their orientation.
In this way, the facade not only has a climatic function but, together with the large cedar, give identity to the new educational center. The project embraces the big tree, respecting its position and integrating it into the proposal as part of the new image of the school.
In addition, this project is a benchmark in terms of construction management. Thanks to the coordination with the school and the construction company, the phasing of the works is organized together with the school calendar, avoiding major effects on the center, and allowing a good coexistence between the work and the school year
