Duke School Center for IDEAS

The Center for IDEAS is a new building on an existing campus of a pre-K thru 8 project-based school. Its purpose is to foster creativity, and the school desired spaces that would allow students to participate in visual and performing arts, technology and science programming, and allow interdisciplinary teaching.

Positioned between the Lower and Middle School buildings, there is a 300-person theater, a lobby space that provides permanent display for children's work, and classrooms for music, robotics (clean lab), and a materials design lab. The building also provides space for a Social Justice Resource Center, which will provide space for community-building. The theater will provide space for events that are open to the public.

The designers employed wood as both structure and primary aesthetic material. Glu-lam structural members that also provide visual warmth are used in the theater, lobby and lab areas. Except for a retaining concrete wall, all walls are wood studs with gypsum board. Of compelling importance to the school, wood is a sustainable material that has a smaller carbon footprint than other building materials.