It’s an Honor
November 20, 2024
The Shirley Tyree Theater was bestowed an Architectural Honor Award by AIA Nebraska this year. Bravo to The Union for Contemporary Art and the entire project team!
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Hillside Elementary School
A School for the Community
When we asked the Hillside Design Advisory Committee, “What makes Hillside great?” the overwhelming response was a strong sense of community and student involvement. Everyone involved loves their school but looks forward to a fresh start. Our challenge was to design a new building that captured the essence of their pride while creating learning environments that foster success for both teachers and students.
Project Details
Location
Omaha, NE
Size
66,600 SF
Scope of Work
New Construction
Date of Completion
Summer 2026
Organization
The building was thoughtfully arranged with a public area that includes admin, student commons, and the gym, and a private area that houses classrooms, the library, and specialty rooms. As a three-section school, each grade level was organized as a branch off the main circulation corridor, giving each grade its own identity while sharing collaboration rooms and breakout spaces.
Daylighting
Daylighting and views were key considerations, with windows strategically placed at the end of each grade branch and large windows in every classroom. Through a careful design process the grade-level areas were rotated 30 degrees, allowing each classroom to have views of either the surrounding trees or the central courtyard.
Design For All
In addition to incorporating biophilic design principles (which aims to connect people with nature in built environments) the design team collaborated with specialists in universal design and neurodivergence. Together, they meticulously reviewed the interior environments, focusing on appropriate materials, color schemes, and furniture choices.
Renderings by Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
