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Designing for climate change in rural Alaska

At a Glance

  • 45.5K

    Square Feet

Location
Kwethluk, Alaska
Offices

Kwethluk K-12 School

When it was time to replace the decades-old K-12 school in Kwethluk, Alaska, it gave the community a chance to think about its future. In rural western Alaska, changes to climate and the need for sustainable solutions required creative thinking.

The result? A 45,500-square-foot, two-story school that sits on driven piles 11 feet off the ground. The elevation protects the school from the regular spring flooding of the Kuskokwim River and its tributaries, and the two-story layout¡ªa split from traditional single-story designs in most rural villages¡ªoffers substantial energy savings in a place where fuel prices are three times or more what they are in most urban settings.

But when it¡¯s time to teach and learn, fuel costs and ground clearance aren¡¯t that important. It¡¯s about the floor-level window in the kindergarten classroom that allows students to see outside while sitting on the floor during story time. And it¡¯s about the multi-purpose bilingual/bicultural classroom and the circular commons area that easily transition to community gathering spaces.

It¡¯s about creating community in a place where community¡ªno matter how small¡ªmeans everything.

At a Glance

  • 45.5K

    Square Feet

Location
Kwethluk, Alaska
Offices

Meet Our Team

Dean Syta, Senior Principal

There is nothing I enjoy more than solving a client¡¯s problems. It¡¯s an opportunity to make life better, safer, or more enjoyable.

Dean Syta

Senior Principal

We¡¯re better together

  • Become a client

    Partner with us today to change how tomorrow looks. You¡¯re exactly what¡¯s needed to help us make it happen in your community.

  • Design your career

    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

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