Robbins Elementary School

View of the new elementary school building.

Project Details

• Project Name: Robbins Elementary School
• Client: NJSCC
• Project Type: Architectural Design
• Principal Designers: Carlo Enzo Frugiuele & Massimo Marinelli
• Design Team: Brian Kim, Bartolome' Olivares, Sho Okaijima, Laura Stedenfeld, Giuliana D'angelo, Roberta Novelli, Delfina Cortese, Alessandro Clistoski, Giacomo De Feo, Natale Prudente, Roman Ovstroskyi, Chantal Aquilina, Bojan Mrezrar, Diego Giovannenza, Tommaso Rocca
• Consultants: LiRO Architects and Planners, Andrew MacNair
• Year of commencement of project: 2004
• Location of site: Trenton, New Jersey, USA
• Site Area: 100,000 square feet
• Built-up Area: 100,000 square feet
• Cost of Construction: USD 20,000,000

View of the exterior courtyard and play areas.

The Building

The project articulates itself around the existing historic school building as it extends towards a new green space positioned on the southern edge of the proposed site.

This space is seen as an outdoor resource for the school as well a potential fragment within a system of small parks in the neighborhood.

View of the space between the old and new buildings.

The presence of this 'operable' open space strengthens the role of the Robbins Elementary School as a primary hub for the local community.

Section through the kindergarten and pre- kindergarten building.

The design proposal envisions an 'open-campus' composed of a system of 5 finger-like and 3 discreet buildings which extend to the proposed green space.

The relationship hence developed between the fingers and the green space attempts to encourage pedestrian utilization.

Aerial view of project.

The design thus attempts to develop this space as a learning tool as well as an asset for the community.

Credits

• Text: Courtesy of the architect
• Photographs: Courtesy of the architect
• Compiled and edited by Mitesh Saraf