Moscow Middle School Outdoor Lunch Space

Extensive budget cuts are directly affecting public schools’ ability to meet changing

education and facility needs. This project resolves two acute needs at the middle school:

providing an all-season outdoor lunch area and reclaiming neglected space between the

original building and gymnasium addition. Our partnership with the district demonstrates

effective use of low and no cost design solutions that optimize existing site conditions and

foreground waste material as viable building stock.

A covered seating area activates a disused planter space on the north edge of the site. The

structure floats above the existing planter and cantilevers over the curb to utilize existing

drainage and expand available square footage. The independent furniture provides

additional seating, backpack storage, and places to stand and eat during lunch. Some

tables can be rearranged during other periods to restructure the space as an outdoor

classroom, fit for students working independently or in larger groups.

This project was undertaken at a time of uncertainty about future use of district facilities.

To ensure adaptability, the entire project is broken up into modular components allowing

for removal or reconfiguration. The north seating area consists of seven 86 sf adjacent

independent structures constructed from 540 salvaged boards. Through intensive

cataloging and optimization, we developed and implemented a system that integrates

structure, seating, circulation and shelter using only the salvaged boards. The prototype

post-tensioned dowel-laminated building system eliminates the need for additional

fasteners, resins, or glues that limit the reuse potential of other mass timber solutions.

The

project uses 4,350 components in 144 types with two primary means of connection

deployed across 24 unique elements including the 5 north seating modules, 3 movable

classroom tables, 6 standing tables, and more. The components offer different seating

arrangements and groupings that allow each middle schooler to find their own place.