Scope
New Elementary School, Grades K-5
Completion
2003
Size
48,000 sf
While being an OFCC school project, Worley Elementary successfully bridged the gap between historic richness and modern technology by incorporating existing carved stone pieces from the original elementary school and designing them within the new K-5 facility. Maintaining a reflection of the historical and cultural values of the community became the key design challenge for this neighborhood elementary school. A variety of community members including staff, students, parents and interested citizens met with the architectural design team for interactive meetings. Through the course of design, they mutually inspired creative design ideas for the new school building.
The most definable architectural features from the existing, and eventually razed elementary school, were the carved stone ornamentation that adorned the exterior of the building. A total of 41 stone pieces were salvaged and strategically integrated into the new school building as exterior, as well as interior design elements. Stone pieces including decorative lions, rosettes with tails, book ornaments, a 4-foot diameter rosette and the original architrave which still faces 23rdStreet, highlight this traditional, new elementary school.
I have been especially impressed at the way parts of the old building are being used in the new. When I heard they would tear down the old building, my first thought was to somehow preserve the many wonderful parts of the building. You have done that!
Joe Bow, Son of the late congressman Frank T. Bow, attended Worley from 1939 to 1947
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