Robert Smalls Leadership Academy
Named for a renowned advocate of education, this school serves as both a cherished community landmark and a forward-looking learning environment, embracing its rich history while inspiring the next generation through a design that is rooted in place and focused on the future.
LOCATION Beaufort, SC
COMPLETED 2023
SIZE 149,000 SF
PHOTOGRAPHER Jordan Powers
AWARDS A4LE South Carolina
Colorful Connections
Color variations in the exterior brick palette add visual depth and define the connections between academic wings. These connections soften the overall massing of the structure while creating opportunities for gallery walls and seating nooks inside.
The double height lobby provides a grand, museum-like entrance. The main wall is covered with a custom, hand drawn graphic. The graphic is not only a nod to the story of the school’s namesake but is also a teaching tool. Geographical markers and local ecology are layered into the graphic and create opportunities for learning and discovery. The terrazzo floor of the lobby depicts a coastal map that ties into the school’s history. Local shell and recycled glass were specifically selected to add sparkle to the floor and speak to the school’s location.
Design Details
The media center incorporates nautical themes and opportunities for discovery. Peek through windows connect the media center to the grand lobby along and beneath the monumental stair. Pin connection columns, round windows, a curved circulation desk, and seaweed inspired sunshades reinforce the nautical inspiration within the space.
Wayfinding is reinforced by accent colors along each academic corridor, and the triangular collision at the art room between the academic wings creates a dynamic space filled with daylight. Corridors are intentionally provided with large windows to amplify daylight and allow views to nature.
