The new urban school of Ciales will create new facilities to house 950 students from Kindergarden to 9th grade. Our goal is to create a school campus that encompasses a balance between community environment and educational aims.
The heart of the dual school is the Central Community Plaza, a space for gatherings and social interaction. Inspired in a typical Puerto Rican town square, it organizes the school’s supporting facilities such as the Auditorium, Library, Community Pavilion, Dining Hall and Administration.
A detached building housing the Library sits in between the two learning communities with a totally independent play-yard area. The unfolding spatial sequence through the central axis is composed of a series of open spaces that complement the buildings.

The design for the new urban school of Ciales aspires to be a valuable teaching tool for the students by stimulating their curiosity and their senses. The building architecture addresses the issues of social interaction, art, science, and love for the environment. In the building we see sustainable solutions such as: green roofs, solar panels that act as shading devices and the integration of native vegetation. This facility is aiming for “Silver” level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.