Drummond Magnet Montessori School Playground/2015

In 2015 I received a Presidential Urban Engagement Grant for my work connected with Drummond Magnet Montessori School located in the Bucktown Neighborhood of Chicago. The school had been raising money for several years to add green space to their schoolyard not only for aesthetic but educational purposes. I proposed a green space based on the elements that can be used as a meeting place for parents as well as an outdoor classroom for the students. Following the Montessori Science curriculum, children can study their world learning about plant structures and growing cycles on multi-use platform seating which is surrounded by a native plant garden. The Turrell-inspired sunroom can be used for play, meditation, and studying the sky. The rain barrel is a practical and conservational addition that serves as another educational and interactive tool for the children. A Lazy Susan's bright colors represent the elements and encourage the exploration of patterns.