Quinton Elementary School

New Kent County faced a pressing challenge: expanding student enrollment in the western region demanded additional capacity beyond the two existing elementary schools. On a 47-acre site, Quinton Elementary School emerged as a response to both immediate and future needs. Built to serve 750 students, the school's split-level design responds to the site's natural grade change, with academic wings configured to maximize natural light and create protected outdoor learning spaces between them.

From Program to Design

The design team began with stakeholder workshops in May 2019, engaging teachers, staff, and community members to define priorities. These sessions revealed key requirements: spaces for team teaching, areas for small group instruction, and community access to athletic facilities. The resulting two-zone concept separates public spaces from academic areas, allowing secure after-hours use of the gymnasium, cafeteria, and media center.

The gymnasium exceeds typical elementary specifications, matching middle school dimensions with a regulation-size court and advanced acoustic treatments. A platform stage with operable walls connects to both the gymnasium and cafeteria, creating options for various event configurations. The New Kent Parks and Recreation Department maintains an office in the building, supporting year-round community programming.

Interior Design Strategy

Each grade level received its own distinct color: gold for pre-K through first grade, orange for second and third grade, green for fourth grade, and turquoise for fifth grade. These colors appear throughout each wing in rubber floor tiles, paint, acoustic panels, and custom light fixtures. In collaboration areas where grades intersect, the colors blend to create unifying spaces.

The media center anchors the building's core, featuring a two-story acoustic panel installation that combines sound control with visual storytelling. One side displays stretched canvas artwork depicting local historical sites and Virginia state symbols, while the other shows a back-printed graphic visible from the main corridor. The 2,400-square-foot space divides into three zones: a classroom area with built-in technology, a "campfire" story area with tiered floor seating, and individual reading spaces with custom wraparound seating and elevated nooks.

Finishes throughout prioritize durability and maintenance. Main corridors feature terrazzo flooring with integrated patterns, while academic wings incorporate resilient materials selected through extensive material studies and full-scale mockups.

Technical Solutions for Teaching and Learning

Each academic wing incorporates "Bear Dens"—extended learning areas ranging from 200 to 800 square feet. These spaces feature mobile furniture, writable wall surfaces, and integrated technology infrastructure to support multiple teaching configurations. Glass-enclosed breakout rooms provide acoustic separation while maintaining visual connections for supervision.

Systems Integration and Performance

Meeting Energy Star certification requirements drove several key decisions. The mechanical system uses high-efficiency heat pumps with energy recovery ventilators, reducing energy consumption while maintaining optimal indoor air quality. LED lighting with daylight harvesting sensors throughout the building decreases electrical usage by 35 percent compared to standard systems.

The security design integrates multiple layers of protection. A monitored vestibule with bullet-resistant glazing controls visitor entry. Electronic access control allows administrators to instantly secure individual wings through a centralized system. Motorized shades in public areas provide quick visual barriers when activated.

Site Integration

The building's orientation creates two distinct arrival zones, separating bus traffic from parent vehicles. This configuration improves daily traffic flow while establishing a more residential scale for the parent entry. Covered outdoor learning areas, including a second-floor science deck with plumbing and electrical infrastructure for experiments, extend educational spaces beyond traditional classroom walls.

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