After-school program reworks school’s special needs space

Seventeen weeks of brainstorming, designing and pitching ideas on ways to improve areas of their school were the first foray into architecture for some students at Alpharetta Elementary. And at least one of their ideas is about to become a reality. Last spring, an after-school program led by the design firm Cooper Carry presented fourth and fifth graders with a challenge: What part of the school can be re-imagined for the better? “The idea was for a design curriculum that focused on observing the environ- ment and looking at design as way of problem solving,” said Megan Fagge, a Cooper Carry architect and certified teacher. “We had this idea of starting out with a 17-week class that introduced them to design in general with the idea that no matter what you see in the world, someone has picked the shape and the colors, and made it work.” Fagge is also part of Cooper Carry’s educational design division that focuses on kindergarten-through-12 projects. The company is designing the new academy planned to open in 2021 down the street from Alp h aretta Elementary, where some of these students may eventually go.

“We’re committed to what these schools are about; it’s not just a building,” said Fagge. “It’s there to serve a purpose, and we welcome the partnerships like this one with Alpharetta Elementary.”

First-year Principal Kathleen Stamper welcomed the collaboration as well.

Stamper said Fagge worked closely with the school to establish goals and expec- tations.

“It was centered on design thinking about different buildings, and students talked to engineers, teachers and students about an area in our building they could work on,” said Stamper. “We have a self-contained special edu- cation population, and our playground doesn’t meet all the needs. So the students agreed to make that their area to rework.” Youngsters studied the design process, from plan- ning and brainstorming to creating models and presenting their ideas to district and school officials and fellow students. The final suggestions revolved around several special needs areas, including an outdoor dining area, a nature trail, sensory environments, equal-access playgrounds and better landscaping. From those presentations, Stamper is now working on a major overhaul of the playground.

“I was able to take some suggestions and implement them right away,” she said. “We received a grant of $1,500 we’re using to put a sensory path where students can engage different parts of their bodies. We hope to have that installed this month, but the outside areas will take a little while to change. We’ve kept all the pictures and videos of the students’ models so we can use them when we’re pursuing options with the district.”

Stamper is also working on bringing Cooper Carry back for another design program. “I’ve already had parents asking about when we’re going to do it again.”

CONTRIBUTED Alpharetta Elementary School students Kaeli Lawder (left) and Declan Cross look over design plans with Cooper Carry architect Megan Fagge, who led an after-school course on design to rework a physical space at the school.