Cottonwood Valley Charter School E-Pod
Socorro, NM
- Award Year
- 2016
- Award Category
- Regional Excellence
- Architect
- Environmental Dynamics, Inc.
- Contractor
- Janstar Builders, Inc.
- Structural Engineer
- Walla Engineering, Ltd.
- Photos
- Patrick Coulie Photography
A multi-purpose charter school for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8, E-Pod features a large, indoor-outdoor, central multi-purpose space flanked by classrooms and offices on the perimeter. It includes a cafeteria, gymnasium, theater, art room, music room, library and offices, and serves as a community center when not being used for school functions. The project is balloon-frame wood construction, with a structural insulated panel shell and exposed custom-engineered trusses and columns. The design team chose wood for this project primarily for aesthetics and cost, in order to create a warm and unique atmosphere for students within the school’s limited budget. By exposing the wood, the team also wanted the tectonic nature of the building’s structure and assembly to be seen and understood. This project was completed in 2011 for a construction cost of $1.2 million.