A Makeover With Attitude

The renovation of a 1960's school in Canton, Ohio is examined. The 38,000-square-foot expansion incorporates classrooms that jut into a central performance space at odd angles with garage-style doors that open wide during special events. Leading to kindergarten and homerooms for 250 students, the spaces between the blue-blocked classrooms also function as informal gathering areas, reading rooms, and play zones. The architects have achieved an overall effect of a magical village with its own topography, trails, and secret hiding place.