Ann Arbor Public Schools Thurston Elementary School

The new Thurston Elementary School, a four-section, two-story building, is located at the current school site, allowing the existing building to remain in use while the new building is being constructed. Demolition and construction will be performed in phases, with the new building built on the north side of the site, and demolition of the existing building on the south side of the site only occurring after the new building is in use. The program accommodates approximately 550 students, and includes grades one-five, as well as Kindergarten, Young-5s and Pre-K.

The site prioritizes student safety and reduces congestion and school related traffic for the adjacent neighborhoods. Blending cohesively with the surrounding neighborhood and environment, the school promotes collaboration and outdoor learning, featuring three outdoor classrooms and three inclusive playgrounds.

The new Thurston Elementary School immerses students in a sustainable and thoughtfully designed building based on the principles of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), a green building program integrating national standards and best practices for healthy, high-performance schools. The school is pursuing CHPS Verified Leader certification—the highest level of CHPS recognition, tailored for K–12 schools. This project is in collaboration with Fielding International as the engagement and education curriculum expert.