Peperzak Middle School has received an AIA Washington Civic Design Citation Award! Recipients of this statewide recognition represent the finest standards in innovation, sustainability, building performance, and overall integration of the building and surrounding community.
The design of this dynamic middle school overlooking the Palouse in Eastern Washington takes full advantage of its picturesque site. Southern views, daylight, and indoor/outdoor learning opportunities celebrate its unparalleled natural setting and support overarching goals for ‘learning happening everywhere’. Departing from traditional layout, a Nutritional Commons (cafeteria) and Learning Commons (library) without walls and linked by a social stair allows for collaboration and interaction throughout the entire day.
Durable zinc metal panels evoke the barns and silos of nearby farms, while the restrained masonry color and subtle texture variations of the brick masonry take cues from nearby wheat fields. Perforated metal panels and high-performance glazing minimize solar heat gain and glare while providing students a constant connection to the outdoors and natural daylight.
Jury comments praised the use of a minimal palette that reflects the agrerian influence of the Palouse landscape it overlooks, and designing with nature which allows it to fit well within its site.
The school is named for Carla Olman Peperzak, a local 99-year-old Holocaust survivor and educator, honoring her noteworthy contributions to the regional educational community. With creative opportunities for learning both inside and out, this bright new school provides a welcoming place for students to learn and grow, living up to its namesake’s hope for universal understanding and acceptance.