Richland Elementary School is an existing school campus that was built in the 1970’s to serve Richardson ISD’s K-6th grade students. This project accomplished two main objectives. The first objective is to bring a cohesive and unified identity to a school that was first constructed more than 40 years ago while renovated or expanded several times during this same time frame. The existing wall, floor and ceiling finishes within all public areas and corridors we unique to the particular stage of original design and construction. The result of this was a facility that didn’t promote a unified idea of a singular school, but rather several unrelated design ideas stitched together over time. In addition, many of the existing finishes have outlived their useful life span, therefore all existing finishes were removed and replaced with updated and modern finishes complying with Richardson ISD’s design and material standards.

The second objective this project was to accommodate the increase in student growth. Since 2010, RISD has experienced significant growth requiring a need for additional classroom space at many of district’s elementary schools. A six-classroom addition was provided at Richland Elementary to house 150 additional students. The building addition, located to the south displacing a portion of the student playfield and playground, will also contain student break out and group collaboration rooms, toilet facilities and storage space.

Completed while at Perkins+Will, Patrick Glenn served as the Managing Principal and Educational Planner while Aaron Ewert served as the Project Designer working on all stages of schematic design through construction.