Caley Elementary and Gulph Elementary School, Upper Merion Area School District

SG developed designs for two new prototype elementary schools in the Upper Merion Area School District. The new schools replaced the existing Caley Elementary School and Gulph School facilities, which were originally constructed in the 1960’s and no longer accommodated the District’s enrollment or educational program.

The school programs encompass 83,279 SF and 95,538 SF respectively, and, in the interest of parity between the two buildings and their respective student populations, each includes a prototypical wing that houses the kindergarten learning node, dining area, gym, stage, music department, support spaces, and administration offices. Due to the complex site boundary and grade conditions present at the Gulph Road location, site-specific design responses were developed for the classroom wings.

Classrooms wings are structured as groupings of grade-appropriate classrooms with learning support and faculty spaces along with team work areas. Each set of grade clusters is oriented around the two-story open Learning Resource and STEAM Center. The classroom clusters connect to the Learning Resource Center through a grand Learning Stair which doubles as a mini auditorium space for the building.

Following an extensive Master Planning process led by SG, the design team developed a series of programming and design workshops that included members from the school community, the community at large and current students.