Burr Elementary School

Burr Elementary School in Fairfield, Connecticut by SOM

Burr Elementary School was featured on this page in November 2002 when it was in the project stage. Skidmore, Ownings & Merrill's design of the two-story structure provided generous glazing and irregular courtyards and cut-outs in the building mass to create a strong relationship to the 15-acre site. In addition to a local stone for the exterior and other natural materials, the architect's designed a low-energy curtain wall and incorporated other sustainable methods, furthered by the school's dedication to sustainable practice.

When writing about the design a couple years ago, the building's relationship to the landscape, its internal courtyards, and the integration of sustainability from design to the end user stood out. Looking at Burr's web page, it appears that the surroundings are very important, be it via views from the school or interactivity on an educational level. One class used an on-site preserved wetland for a science project. 

Since the school's design and subsequent construction, LEED has expanded into many areas of architectural practice, some jurisdictions (like Chicago) requiring compliance with the system for public buildings. While Burr Elementary doesn't appear to be LEED certified, SOM facilitated many strategies that would earn credits in the program, such as using recycled materials, managing waste, storm & irrigation systems, and via improved air and energy performance. LEED or not, the decision to create an environmentally responsible school is important, not only for the architecture itself, but for the children who will learn something from the building and its setting.

Comparing the renderings to the photographs of the completed school, the effect between the former and the latter is relatively seamless. Granted that renderings have become so photo-realistic that many times clients are disappointed when the reality isn't as dramatic as the design images, but SOM focused on light and space, eschewing mullions in the process. What stands out is the effort put into the internal voids and adjacent spaces. Compared to the firm's raison d'etre - the high rise structure - an elementary school need not be rendered as an object but as an environment, in this case an environment for children to learn and grown in contact with their natural surroundings.