FWCS Outdoor Classrooms

To further the Fort Wayne Community Schools Magnet Program, JPR was hired to conceptualize outdoor classroom areas at four schools in support of their various curriculums.

Whitney Young Early Childhood Center (Grades: Pre-K & Kindergarten): As part of the Arts Magnet School Program, Whitney Young follows the Reggio Emilia teaching philosophy which encourages self-discovery and individualized expression through learning. Working closely with the principal, JPR transformed her key words of “water interaction, reading space, and musical opportunities” into unique outdoor spaces for the students.

The intent of this design was to provide outdoor resources that foster creativity and encourage the self-discovery aspects important to the Reggio Emilia learning approach.

Utilizing the school’s existing conditions, JPR proposed site improvements that included a tricycle track and interactive storage shed, along with a variety of reading huts, water interaction tables, and musical nodes. Seating areas were also included throughout the new space, and several chalkboards were proposed for the students to use. The trike track and play components were proposed in a natural color scheme to fit seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, congruent with the school’s teaching philosophy. Their main concern, however, was site elements disappearing or being used outside of the school curriculum. To solve this, JPR proposed that all furnishings be secured in place and that a direct connection between the water table spigot and the water line be made.

Irwin Elementary School (Grades: K-5): At this site, exterior improvements were proposed to support the school’s STEM curriculum. JPR provided conceptual design for an outdoor classroom surrounded by landscape and planter beds. It also included water tables to promote hands-on learning.

Collaborating with school faculty, JPR learned that the new classroom needed to be designated as its own space and strategically separated from the nearby playground. Using gateway signage, the team worked to define the entrance and establish a divided area.

The school also anticipated future renovations to their student drop-off and pick-up routes which would occur adjacent to the outdoor classroom. To account for this, JPR developed a preliminary layout of future renovations to ensure the construction would not impact the classroom improvements.

Weisser Park (Grades: 1-5): As an Arts Magnet School, Weisser Park bases its curriculum on the National Standards for Arts Education offering courses in music, theater, 2D and 3D art, dance, and photography. To support this curriculum, JPR proposed a site plan that incorporated an outdoor stage, classroom seating, and musical play elements.

Because the project area was located next to the school’s main entrance, providing a cohesive and aesthetic design was crucial. The existing lawn area contained a rain garden that was not being used to its full potential, along with a few student art pieces. JPR’s design revitalized the rain garden and included prominent areas to display student art. The outcome not only satisfied the functional requirements, but it also established an appealing gateway into the school.

The primary obstacle was avoiding several utilities that traversed the front lawn. This required the team to be meticulous in placing the space enhancements, ensuring a creative design without constraining the project budget due to infrastructure relocations.

This concept transformed the front lawn of Weisser Park into a space dedicated to performances, learning, and play.

Memorial Park Middle School (Grades: 6-8): This fine-arts focused middle school provides students with ample opportunities to learn through visual art, drama, and foreign languages. However, it also has a significant engineering department. For this project, JPR proposed an outdoor engineering workshop, along with an outdoor classroom/cafeteria space.

The workshop area, to be utilized by engineering students and a blacksmithing club, also included a secure space to store materials and a donation center allowing contractors to drop-off extra supplies. The dining area can accommodate 50 students at once, with picnic tables and boulder seating, and can also be utilized as an outdoor classroom with proposed chalkboards.

Throughout the project there were a variety of obstacles that the team needed to address. This included proposing options for the shipping container (used for storage), sliding fence, and pavement that worked well together and were able to coexist within a tight footprint. It also included investigating property documentation and working closely with school faculty to finalize the location of the workshop due to several challenges involving easements and setbacks.

The goal of these improvements was to support the interior school curriculum, while creating a unique outdoor space to be used for day-to-day, hands-on activities.

‍