Project Statement

The new central administration office at the Greenland School District is a welcome upgrade from the previous location in an aging house. Spanning 3,200 square feet, this carefully detailed building includes five offices, a workroom, a break room, and a versatile boardroom that doubles as a multi-purpose area for the district. The offices are strategically placed along an existing tree canopy and seasonal streambed, providing a visual connection to nature. The plantings and native grasses in this area not only enhance the beauty of the building's edge but also promote biofiltration. This placement between the parking lot and streambed creates a purposeful sequence navigating the edge between the manmade and natural world. Other areas along the building edge feature a permeable ground cover of decomposed granite, which requires minimal maintenance. The facade showcases a skillfully composed brick and glass design that honors the mid-century style of the existing campus and harmonizes with the adjacent buildings. The bricks are precisely coursed to full or half brick lengths, eliminating cuts and waste.

A two-sided entry celebrates a pedestrian approach from the south that is as privileged as the conventional automobile arrival from the north. The southern entrance establishes a "front porch" space that greets the main campus, while the lobby divides the private office functions from the more prominent boardroom. The interior spaces are bathed in natural light, thanks to the creative use of translucent acid-etched glazing that delivers daylight while ensuring visual privacy from the adjacent parking lot.