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PROJECT
interiors
Shared activity space connects the gym, multi-purpose room, and media center and combines design elements from the three unique color palettes.
Color Brightens Special Needs School Three hub colors define environmental themes for students with learning challenges.
S
pecial-education students at Clark County
room, and media center, combines design elements
School District’s (CCSD) Variety School in
from the three unique color palettes.
itive connection to the community. The design team at KGA was tasked with finding a
Las Vegas have a colorful new building to
The colors used throughout also had to provide a
flooring solution that was cost-effective and aestheti-
better serve their needs. The 80,600-sq.-ft. special-ed-
calming and positive environment for the design. Be-
cally pleasing, all while meeting CCSD’s stringent en-
ucation school serves students, ages 5 to 22, who have
cause of the special needs of these students, color was
ergy-efficiency targets and use of environmentally
autism and behavioral and emotional challenges.
a large factor in the decision-making process. Colors
friendly materials throughout the school. The design-
Opened in January 2013, the facility was completed
couldn’t be so bold and bright that they disrupted the
ers turned to the Houston-based Azrock VCT collec-
by the design-build team of Martin-Harris Construc-
learning of each student, and the space also had to
tion to turn the Variety School into a comfortable,
tion and KGA Architecture, both of Las Vegas.
provide a functional environment that made it easier
safe learning environment for the students. The many
for teachers to do difficult jobs on a daily basis.
different palettes, with their vibrant options, enabled
Classrooms within the school are organized in three hubs, each catering to a different special need. Each of
A vocational training center prepares students for jobs
the hubs has a color scheme connected with an environ-
in hospitality, food service, office work, and recycling. A
In addition, the flooring has low TVOC (total
mental theme, including the desert (orange–for the stu-
simulated residential unit helps students practice daily life
volatile-organic-compound) emissions and is pro-
dents with emotional challenges), forest (green–for stu-
skills, and outdoor spaces include play areas, courtyards
duced using natural limestone, which is a readily
dents with behavioral challenges), and ocean (blue–for
for outdoor learning, and a student-run garden. The site
available natural material. Azrock VCT contains
students with autism). Each of the color schemes pro-
strategy of placing the building on the street with entranc-
pre- and post-consumer recycled content, which met
vides distinct identity and wayfinding. The shared ac-
es focused inward eliminated the need for a perimeter
the environmentally friendly criteria for which the
tivity space, which connects the gym, multi-purpose
fence and a fire lane, while strengthening the school’s pos-
school was looking. Further, the flooring is recycla-
42
COMMERCI A L BUIL DING P RODUC T S
JUL/AUG 2014
www.cbpmagazine.com
KGA to realize its vision for the school.
