Lisle Elementary School
With Lisle Elementary School, a new home for learning was created out of two previously separate school communities. Students used to switch between two different buildings every few years throughout elementary school due to a lack of space. A main goal for the new school was to bring these two spaces together, creating a cohesive experience.
The heart of the school is the two-story library connecting to classrooms, wide corridors, and a central staircase. It consolidates support spaces for tutors and social workers, as well as areas for small groups and independent study. The large windows encircling the library make these spaces bright and inviting.
Connectivity to transparent breakout rooms further diversifies the learning spaces. A computer lab called the SmartLab weaves technology into the curriculum. Sightlines to all learning spaces allow teacher supervision while giving students the independence they need to grow.
The second-story terrace features abundant native plantings, breaking down the building’s mass and adding visual continuity to surrounding greenery.
Electro-chromatic glass on the east and west facades tracks the sun, and self-shades to minimize heat gain. The transparent north face harnesses continuous indirect sunlight. Interior and exterior windows provide sightlines from anywhere in the building to surrounding green spaces, optimizing daylighting conditions indoors and reducing energy loads.
