Big Creek Elementary is a new intermediate school for grades three through five in the North Polk community School District. The building is organized around a large central commons, that simplifies wayfinding. Neighborhoods for each grade include restrooms, lockers, and a large collaboration space that can accommodate group activities or can be used as a learning space similar to the classrooms.

A grade change on the site allows for a walkout design. Large windows, clerestories and borrowed light windows in the classrooms allow natural daylight to fill the classroom neighborhood’s interior spaces. The main entry is situated on the upper level while the large volume spaces, such as the gym and commons, are located on the lower level.  This allows the mass and scale of the building to be more  appropriate for an elementary school. The school’s design was shaped by the following guiding principles, developed with the district through a series of visioning sessions and benchmarking trips: Design for the future, safety and security, community and connectivity, pride in the district, and accessibility, inclusivity and a welcoming environment to all.