When Flint Community Schools was looking to renovate Doyle-Ryder Elementary’s classroom addition—which hadn’t been updated since 1981—Stantec Architecture Inc. was there to help.
With an open floorplan, the existing classrooms had issues with acoustics, security, and visual separation which were negatively impacting the learning environment. Our team created a design with new separated classrooms and enclosed paths of circulation. New circular windows at varied heights along the corridor common walls allow daylight to come into the re-defined interior spaces. To encourage learning outside the classroom, colorful seating nooks line the edges of the new corridors where students can gather. Inside the classrooms, pops of color on the walls, new dragon scale themed floor tiles inspired by the school mascot, and updates to technology, storage, lighting, furniture, and acoustics create fresh bright learning environments. The new scope also addressed improvements to HVAC, plumbing, lighting systems and ceilings.
Designing a modern, playful, and functional update to an existing classroom addition represents a transformational change for its user groups and is a milestone effort for Flint Community Schools’ long term improvements plan. Doyle-Ryder is now serving as a benchmark for several other current and future projects across the district.
