Architects: Stieglitz Snyder Architecture

Southside Elementary is part of Buffalo Public School’s Phase 4 Reconstruction project. By locating the pre-kindergarten classrooms at the front of the building we were able to take advantage of the narrow strip of greenspace at the front of the building. This area was developed into a dedicated pre-k learning environment, with three main activity areas; active and digging play, group learning and performance, and natural inquiry learning.

The active area includes a gravel digging box and raised planters for active gardening by the students. The group learning space provides small seat walls for group instruction, as well as a wide pavement area for group activities and performances. Plantings surrounding the seat walls create an enclosure allowing the space to feel a bit removed from the activity areas on either side.
The natural inquiry area utilizes a large pavement space to discuss hourly time, a monthly calendar, seasons of the year, all overlaid on a mathematical protractor indicating degrees of a circle. This area also uses a weather station, and planters for active digging. Hints of the natural world are scattered throughout the space; with engravings of leaves from trees local to the neighborhood, as well as engraved tracks from skunks, squirrels and other “urban” animals placed along the walkways.

The interior courtyard had many elevation and accessibility challenges, yet was blessed with a beautiful and mature Birch tree. The analysis phase identified all the opportunities this courtyard had. The adjacent library access could allow a greater number of students to use the space regularly, and the adjacent cafeteria use could allow student and faculty dining area as well. Because the interior courtyard has difficult access issues for construction equipment, we specified the existing concrete slab be crushed to become the base material layer for the new pavement. We were able to raise the elevation at the doors, and maintain the elevation of the tree that was once in a raised planter. An active area with pavement and seat walls is closely tied to the library and cafeteria. A sunken “natural walk” wraps the tree, leading to a small walled seating area, and provides access to the existing drainage system for the space. A “knoll” is created below the tree, and artificial turf was used to create an inviting lawn in this remote and shady space.