Elementary School K-12 Education
Culpepper Landing Elementary School.
Chesapeake, VA
This new 141,000 SF PK–5 Elementary School serves 960 students. It sits at the rear of the Culpepper Landing neighborhood, bordered by lush forests and the Dismal Swamp. Taking cues from its surroundings, the design incorporates biophilic elements throughout the building and site to connect students with nature. Our team carefully scaled the building to harmonize with nearby residential homes. Earth-toned materials complement the natural surroundings.
Upon arrival, visitors encounter abundant trees and organically patterned crosswalks as the building gradually reveals itself. The parent drop-off lane offers quick access to a covered canopy that leads to the main entrance. This is bordered by native plantings and boulders that provide seating and passive vehicular protection. Once inside, the entrance vestibule welcomes students and visitors with wood-toned acoustic beams and playful curved soffits. These features carry through to the Central Commons. This two-story space serves as a hub of activity, with Dining, Gym, Art, and STEM spaces surrounding a central gathering area.
The second-floor Discovery Center overlooks this space. It features a tree house, wooden columns, and acoustic ceiling clouds that create the feeling of a forest canopy extending over the commons below. In addition, Grade House floor patterns and color schemes convey themes of air, water, and earth. Flexible classroom layouts include operable partitions and sliding glass doors that open onto a Student Learning Commons. As a result, this area provides ample opportunities for individual, small, and large group learning.
Furthermore, calm courtyards include planted areas, earth berms, shade trees, and flowing sidewalks that connect outdoor learning spaces to the playgrounds and open playfields beyond. At the rear of the site, nestled in the woods, the Environmental Pavilion and nature trail offer learning opportunities for students at this school and serve as a field trip destination for others in the district.
Over 500 homes as well as new apartment complexes have been built in Chesapeake in recent years. Culpepper Landing Elementary will work to alleviate the overcrowding that many Chesapeake Public Schools are currently facing.
