Lake County Elementary, a newly constructed replacement school for Lake County School District, embodies the concept of “Learning Beyond Walls” through its innovative and contextually integrated design. The school features a contemporary interpretation of historic design elements, ensuring it complements the natural surroundings of its location.

A component of the design is the concept of ‘Glance at the Past,’ which provides students with engaging opportunities to explore local history. This narrative is visually represented through vibrant colors and playful textures, seamlessly integrating with the overall school design.

The entry areas of the school utilize natural materials, including layered wood species, to create distinctive mountain murals and dimensional letters that echo the surrounding landscape. These features are further adorned with whimsical abstract birds, enhancing the connection to nature, and increasing biophilic moments throughout the space.

The school is organized into thematic neighborhoods, each highlighted by bright graphics depicting local animals and plants. Dimensional lettering reinforces core values for both students and staff. Additional educational elements are incorporated through environmental graphic design. For example, custom sandblasted graphics near the entry illustrate weather patterns and water cycles within the mountain range, providing further educational enrichment.

Overall, the design of Lake County Elementary creates an immersive, educational environment that fosters a strong connection to both the natural world and the local community.

To learn more about the architecture services Hord Coplan Macht provided for this project, click here.