• Client: Nettelhorst Elementary school- Parent Teacher Organization
• Area: 2,000 SF
• Phase: Built
• spring 2017

The Story

Nettelhorst Elementary is located in Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago. The Parent Teacher Organization has been actively organizing fundraisers to support educational needs of the school as well as different projects and improvements all around the building.

Technology classes are held in the library and technology center. Students had been seated in three linear rows, two of the facing each other and one row facing the wall. At projector screening times students would sit in the space left between the desk rows and the wall, where often was limiting to house larger classrooms or older students. We designed a clustered desk arrangement, so students sit around hexagonal desks in groups of six and be able to interacts easier. The new desk layout allows for a rug area in the middle of the desks where students can gather at project screening times more comfortably.The space was also in need of new finishes. The old broadloom carpet is replaced with replaceable carpet tiles as being more appropriate for a space used by children. It is also painted a neutral color to showcase the art works on the walls.

Images below show the process, how we start from the blue linear arranged technology center to freshly finished clustered layout.