Rossville Elementary School

Rosedale, MD

Details: Prototype school design; Media center, cafeteria, gymnasium, general classrooms; Shared space for the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks use; Designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification

Owner: Baltimore County Public Schools

Services: Sustainable Design, Interior Design, Full Design Services, Construction Administration, Building Information Modeling

Designed as a reconfiguration of the GWWO prototype, the new Rossville Elementary School was adapted to the site and redesigned to provide for additional flexibility.

Careful consideration was given to the siting of the school to respect the wooded area while maintaining an equitability of the quality of the educational spaces. The balance of incorporating the indoors and out are highlighted throughout the new school with expanses of glass and ample outdoor space, including a rooftop garden/classroom and a grand main stair with views out that also serves as an additional classroom and learning space.

Comprised of a classroom wing and a cafeteria/gymnasium wing connected by the core of the building, the new 21st century school provides numerous possibilities for collaborative learning. The two-story classroom wing is organized around a large learning commons on each floor, providing space for multimodal instruction. Pairs of classrooms also share smaller breakout areas for out-of-class learning. Circulation areas also serve as informal learning spaces, such as the multipurpose main stair, which can be used for presentations or performances and provide additional opportunities underneath for art displays and small-group teaching space.

The cafeteria/gymnasium wing provides flexibility for large gatherings, when needed, and incorporates the greater community by acting as space for the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks.