OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
Project Type: Campus
Location: North Texas
Year: 2024
Size: 3,000 sf
Outdoor classrooms play a vital role in education and should be integrated into school design from the outset. Treating them as fully realized outdoor rooms rather than simply landscaped areas ensures they are accessible, functional, and safe, supporting long-term success.
This proposed 3,000-square-foot outdoor classroom includes a stone block seating area, a 200-square-foot project space, a 1,500-square-foot experimental garden, a sidewalk that doubles as an egress path, and architectural screening for child safety.
The garden incorporates a stormwater collection system, directing rainwater from the school’s roof through rain chains into a cistern for use in the garden. This system not only supports sustainability but also provides a hands-on learning opportunity. The outdoor classroom also functions as a light well, bringing natural light into adjacent indoor spaces.
By blending nature, sustainability, and functionality, this design creates a versatile, engaging learning environment that encourages exploration and interaction.
