Move! elementary

Architecture at its core shapes the movement of the user, and no user group highlights this condition more than children. Today children are often restricted by traditional sedentary classrooms, vehicular travel, and a world dominated by screens. By architecturally encouraging more movement, schools can improve the physical and mental health of the students while using the expression of movement to harness electricity. Incorporating movement into the classroom is beneficial to the mental and physical health of these children, but could it do more? By using architectural interventions to combine movement and generation of energy, children can be empowered to learn in healthier ways, and see how they can impact the building performance. Located on a large suburban site, MOVE! Elementary creates space for woodland and prairie restoration, reconnecting to nature which has been cut out of the suburban environment. The architectural form of MOVE! works to encourage and celebrate all types of movement and play. MOVE! Elementary tackles 5 main goals: to improve overall health, architecturally encourage movement, encourage stewardship, integrate with nature, and to generate electricity. All five of these goals make energy production and use tangible to students and synthesize into compelling, movement driven architecture.