Forest Lake Elementary School
This elementary school brings together the NASA Explorer and Elementary Learning Collaborative (ELC) magnet programs within a learning environment shaped by both curiosity and context.
DISTRICT Richland School District Two
CAPACITY 747 Students
LOCATION Columbia, SC
COMPLETED 2022
SIZE 144,000 SF
PHOTOGRAPHER Matt Silk
Nestled in the Neighborhood
The existing 1970’s Forest Lake Elementary School is located in a densely populated residential area of the District. With the need for an improved facility with room for expansion and a flexible learning environment, the District passed a Bond Referendum to build a new replacement school. The adjacent site, which consists of the old District office and abandoned play fields, was utilized to construct the new school while the existing school remained in operation.
Designed for Exploration
The upper level creates a welcoming and secure arrival experience, featuring a prominent main entrance with separate visitor and student access. A NASA-inspired rotunda serves as the heart of the school, connecting specialized labs, classrooms, and collaborative learning areas. Embedded within the site’s topography, the lower level houses additional classrooms and shared spaces, linked by a vibrant ramp that leads to the Media Center, central outdoor learning courtyard, and expansive dining commons. Throughout the school, celestial-inspired graphics, floor patterns, and ceiling elements reinforce the spirit of exploration.
Flexible, student-centered furnishings support the school’s innovative learning model through bold colors, curvilinear forms, writable surfaces, and adaptable configurations. Designed to accommodate everything from focused study to collaborative, project-based learning, these environments foster creativity, engagement, and discovery.
