Hacker has created a design that provides immediate access to the outdoors at the Oregon Episcopal School’s Beginning and Lower School located in Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Episcopal School’s new Beginning and Lower School serves as the campus entrance, opening up new green space to serve as a commons for students of all ages. This PK-5 school features large flexible classrooms, dedicated group collaboration spaces, state-of-the-art science labs and art studios, gathering and performance space, and ample access to the outdoors. The Beginning and Lower School reflects the OES community’s desire for open spaces that encourage the exchange of tools, knowledge, and creativity; flexible learning spaces that are adaptable to changing curriculum needs; gathering spaces that support interaction at different levels and scales; and a design that embraces nature and the outdoors as a teaching tool.

Designer: Hacker
Design Team: David Keltner, Stefee Knudsen, Nick Hodges, Alex Zelaya, Amy Thornton, Cian Bouma, Sam Gomez
Contractor: Skanska USA
Photography: Lara Swimmer