Winding Creek Elementary School

Cumberland Valley School District
K-12
07/07
Open Gallery

Serving one of the fastest growing areas in Pennsylvania, Cumberland Valley School District is experiencing enrollment increases of approximately 200 elementary age students per year. The District contracted with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates to provide a master plan to accommodate the student growth and maintain the District’s buildings. The new 850 student, Winding Creek Elementary School, is part of a new two-building campus for the District. The new Mountain View Middle School is located on the same site and opened in August, 2019.

 

The design of Winding Creek integrates modern spaces which allow for various forms of instruction, including individual, small and large group, and outdoor educational spaces.  The facility is designed with flexible and adaptable educational environments able to meet the individualized needs of all learners.

 

The three educational wings are organized around large Learning Commons which are furnished with flexible seating and help foster a collaborative learning experience. Sustainable design principles were incorporated into the design as can be seen in the ample natural daylight in all of the rooms.  Each educational wing has two grade levels. The library, cafeteria and gymnasium are located opposite of the classrooms wings which provides many resources to the community after the school day.

 

“While the challenges were immense, it was the meticulous feasibility studies, planning, design, and development of a sound set of bid documents that resulted in bids being returned approximately 6% under the Act 34 estimates.” ~ Fred Withum, III, Ed.D, Former Superintendent

 

Winding Creek Elementary School is laudable for its main-street approach to organization and circulation. The building-long corridor provides generous space for movement, gathering, and supervision. Open, friendly spaces for flexible learning branch from this main spine, defined by color in refined and subtle ways, without “designing down” to children. The school’s windows capture compelling views of the landscape, and bring light into the already-airy interior spaces.
Jury Comments (Boston Society of Architects)

Awards & Certifications

AIA Design Awards – Citation Award 2019
Central Pennsylvania Chapter
2019 Outstanding Design
American School & University Interiors Showcase

142,000 SF

size

$22,700,000

cost

2018

completion

Mechanicsburg, PA

location

Articles

January 01, 1970
Governor Tom Wolf Visits Winding Creek Elementary School
January 01, 1970
Cumberland Valley School District’s New Campus Uses Roundabout to Handle Increased Traffic
January 01, 1970
Winding Creek Elementary School Recently Honored with Multiple Design Recognitions
View All News

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