DLR Group responded to the evolving needs of the community when expanding and modernizing Maury Elementary School located in east Capitol Hill of Washington DC.

A cornerstone modernization for east Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Maury Elementary School has served its neighborhood for more than 130 years. The need for greater capacity and alignment with its community’s evolving needs led to an expanded and modernized school that creatively maintains the historic 1886 4-square classroom building and integrates an addition as compactly as possible on the existing site. A glass-edged atrium connects the historic with the new to celebrate the original historic façades while amplifying transparency and indoor-outdoor connections.

The school’s mission is to offer a nurturing environment to its demographically and economically diverse community of learners, fostering creativity, cultivating curiosity, and forming lasting connections to develop self-empowered citizens. The re-imagined school elevates this mission. Opportunities for learning are everywhere, as a high degree of interior glazing provides a sense of openness and connectedness. Design principles guiding the newly opened school include maximizing open space for physical education, informal play, and community use and creating a unique sense of place that inspires, attracts, and sparks children’s love of learning.

The 83,000 SF school accommodates 539 students. Classrooms are clustered into cohorts, with supporting facilities in each cluster. Shared areas in each cluster encourage opportunities for collaborative teaching and learning. The interior adds biophilic non-institutional elements to support a playful child-scaled interior. Coupled with modulated ceiling and sill heights, spaces respond to the age and size of the students.

Sustainably designed to exceed LEEDv4 Gold certification, the facility is thoughtfully integrated with energy-efficient systems and a focus on well-being. Advanced energy modeling was utilized at each phase of the project to run daylight simulations, refine massing, fenestration, and wall assemblies. All stormwater is collected on-site via green roofs, bioswales, permeable surfaces and a cistern – all of which enhance learning opportunities within.

Architect: DLR Group Contractor: MCN Build Photography: Alan Karchmer

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