Waverly-Shell Rock Elementary Schools

Waverly and Shell Rock, Iowa

Two new elementary schools each serving 450 students were designed around clear spatial logic and everyday usability. Classrooms line the building edge to capture daylight and views while a network of collaboration spaces is woven between classroom clusters to provide immediate access for intervention and enrichment, allowing teachers to move small groups from whole class instruction into targeted support or extension without losing sight lines or supervision. Campus organization emphasizes practical circulation and safe arrival with separate family drop off and bus loops, controlled entry points, and a central spine that collects public program elements including a media hub, a large multipurpose gym that doubles as a community venue, and student commons that function as flexible breakout areas for informal learning.

Each campus responds to its site with modest massing that works with existing terrain, with buildings partially set into slopes to take advantage of natural thermal buffering while still drawing daylight into learning spaces. Interior shared programs are clustered so classrooms remain quiet and focused along the perimeter, and adaptable interior rooms can be reconfigured as needs evolve over years of use. The result is a pair of schools that pair efficient operations with thoughtful places for teaching and collaboration, giving educators proximate tools to personalize learning and giving the community welcoming spaces for events and connection.

Project completed while at INVISION — Role: Educational Planner; Interior Designer

Photos by Cameron Campbell; Integrated Studio