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The Reggio Emilia approach drove the design of the Goding School where architectural elements are integral to the didactic program. Sensorial elements including light, textures and smell are key to sparking curiosity, so we incorporated skylights, a variety of materials such as stone and wood to introduce different textures for students to explore, as well as woods with different smells. Architecturally, the spaces expand and contract according to the school’s needs. The rooms are flexible and can be combined for a variety of activities. Between the classrooms, there are spaces known as “ateliers” which serve as labs which support the classrooms by providing spaces for the students to explore sensorial experiences.
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The project consisted of a renovation to an existing structure, conserving the skeleton and creating a new relationship between the school and an adjacent recreation center. Visually, we introduced color to the facade of the building which reflects the range of colors of the homes in the surrounding neighborhood. We also capitalized on the existence of a roof to create an additional outdoor classroom/amphitheater.
We achieved LEED Platinum despite the age of the building by recladding exterior walls to be more energy efficient and replacing all the building’s systems. The cladding used provides outdoor insulation to wrap the entire building, greatly aiding energy efficiency. It also acts as a rainscreen. Window overhangs protect from the direct sun, keeping the building cooler, lessening the need for air conditioner use. The lighting in the building is all LED, and it has sensors that automatically adjust intensity based on the exterior light available, again saving energy. Individual thermostats for different areas allow precise control based on the usage of each area and protecting from unnecessary heating or cooling of empty spaces.
School-Within-School at Goding Elementary school is unique in being a large public school designed to support the Reggio-Emilia Approach. It is a welcoming and flexible environment to accommodate the school’s programs, and the building itself acts as a teacher. Its soft colors enable its students, some of whom have special needs, to operate successfully with controlled light and sound elements and all natural materials. Materials with different textures, wood with varying aromas, a food garden and teaching kitchen for growing and cooking vegetables allow students to engage all their senses and encourage curiosity. Specially designed furniture from Italy creates an environment that both aids collaboration and provides space for quiet, focused work. We also created areas that can be shared with the community, including the cafeteria, gym and recreation area, positioned in such a way that they are separate from the rest of the school and can be used by the community for after-hours activities.
“The final design which was delivered at School Within a School at Goding was creative and beautiful while working with a difficult building and very small site plan. The team always comes up with some of the most interesting solutions to problems as they arise.” “The design as a whole, despite significant constraints, is universally appreciated by the client and end-user community.”
We are a firm that designs without boundaries.
Architect, client, contractors and consultants are teammates in the design process. Communication is open and continuous. The studio is strengthened by dynamic and collaborative relationships. Everyone contributes to the success of each project.
The relationship between a building, its surroundings and the community informs and molds a space to create a building that “belongs” and is responsive. Our designs foster a dialogue between immediate context and the broader setting. Our buildings use sustainable materials and environmentally-conscious systems.
Since its 1995 founding, Shinberg.Levinas has earned recognition from many sources, including over 30 AIA awards. The firm’s work has been published in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Architectural Record, Interior Design, Home & Design, Le Figaro and internationally distributed books and online magazines.
We aim high. We work hard and are devoted to principle and pragmatism.
