Ivan G Smith Elementary School

The Town of Danvers, Massachusetts, implemented a comprehensive school replacement project, constructing a new pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade elementary school facility. Due to the need for continuous operation of the existing school and the presence of sensitive wetland and watershed areas, the project necessitated extensive site planning to reconcile educational requirements with regulatory mandates. The resulting split-level building design integrates significant outdoor amenities, including outdoor classrooms, a solar-optimized amphitheater, demonstration learning environments for natural systems education, a reconstructed sand-based natural grass athletic field, and a custom-designed, universally accessible playground.