MIDLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INNOVATION CENTER

The design for the Innovation Center imagines a cross disciplinary collaborative space for exploration at the heart of Midland Elementary School, part of Moreno Valley Unified School District in Southern California. The project seeks to reimagine the original 1960’s library classroom building and underutilized outdoor courtyard, as a blended indoor and outdoor multimedia, fabrication and reading space.

The focus of the project was to create an elementary-level prototype that would inspire student creativity while providing foundational learning opportunities for career pathways that are available at the middle and high school levels. Boarders between all spaces are intentionally flexible and fluid with movable walls. The intent is to inspire interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking through the combination of digital fabrication, media production, story and nature. The 1,290 square foot innovation space houses laser cutting machines, 3D printers and sewing machines. Video game stations and a video recording studio support the successful and popular E-sports and video production career pathways at the upper grade levels. The adjacent outdoor space includes a native garden and paved flexible arts and robotics area.

The reading center houses a collection of printed and digital media. The design promotes a sense of fun and creativity. Soft and flexible interior seating, rolling desks and chairs, video presentation screens, writable partition walls and adjacent outdoor reading area allow for students to explore and find their own learning styles. Student work is on display with video screens and open shelving, accented by wood and circular ceilings elements. Rubberized surfacing, radial concrete seating walls and writable surfaces are centered around natural shade to create a tactile and flexible outdoor space for individual or large group instruction.