EAST ACADEMY, NASHVILLE,
TENNESSEE The Master Plan for the new East Academy school minimizes the impact of the school’s buildings on the existing densely wooded and steeply sloping site located in the heart of East Nashville adjacent to Shelby Bottoms Park and the Cumberland River view shed. The future 62,000 square foot campus for grades 4-12 consists of a series of raised boardwalks connecting classroom buildings to public buildings – all focused on "the hub" or library and surrounding the “Community Forest". The Plan supports the "Multiple Intelligences" mission of East Academy through flexibility of teaching spaces and a safe/creative environment with an intimate connection to nature. The design encourages exploration using the site and buildings as teaching tools to showcase sustainable design. Sustainable features include minimal parking with pervious surfaces, bio-swales, geothermal heating/ cooling and buildings located to utilize natural light and ventilation. The buildings touch the site lightly and cascade down the slope, perched on tall pillars, so that most buildings feel like tree houses. |
