Parson Hills Elementary school

Springdale, AR

The Parson Hills Elementary School-Based Wellness Center was initiated by Springdale Public Schools and Community Clinic to create a health and wellness clinic in the under-served community. This brings the clinic to the community, rather than residents traveling miles from home and school. This drastically reduces the time for students out of the classroom and parents away from work. While it is an extension of the school building, it serves more than just the students and parents. This is an open-access service to the entire community. Along with the wellness center, the school district addressed other issues; security was one of the most crucial concerns. During its original 1980s construction, student safety was handled differently. The entry doors oriented on the side of the building no longer suited current security needs. Additionally, it was covered with a small overhang that allowed for leakage and debris collection.

Confronted with a limited budget, the challenge was to create a useful clinic and secure entrance that simultaneously engages the neighborhood. The project connects the expanding urban fabric to a school frozen in time, transforming it to a dynamic and adaptable space that can continue to evolve to meet the needs of the community

The school is comprised solely of students who walk, bike, or are parent drop-off due to its central location. Human scale was vital to create an inviting environment that could coexist with the built context and promote the growth of a diverse neighborhood inclusive of all inhabitants.

After several iterations and value engineering exercises to achieve the desired price point, the design intent was kept intact. It creates a juxtaposition between progressive and traditional using the rhythm and spatial organization from the original design, celebrating the school’s community preservation-focused design.

The original building’s 4x4 grid layout was copied to the addition to give the spatial organization a cohesive atmosphere. A nod to the traditional original building, the new exterior is defined by fiber cement panels, creating a grid effect similar to that of the interior.

The fiber cement panels were one of the key features to getting the clinic within budget. While a variety of materials were studied, nothing else provided the durability and expression required. The panels were sized to fit the module of the grid organization. The panels at the security entrance were designed irregular to create a hierarchy against the pattern of the original windows. This rhythm was emphasized by the inclusion of blue panels that are incorporated in the cluster appendage and existing exteriors to create a united façade.

In response to the limitations of the security entrance’s mobility, it was sited at an angle off the existing building entrance, engaging both the street and parking lot. This creates a visual connection between the clinic and existing school structure, clearly defining the entry point to new visitors.

Photos by Aaron Kimberlin