Serving 500-plus students in fast-growing Buckeye, west of Phoenix, the $25.5-million K-8 school is organized with three learning communities operated along traditional age-based grade bands, but the floorplan can flex to an ability-based cohort involving teacher-facilitated learning.

Principles of high-performance and biophilic design such as ample natural light, views and access to the outdoors are a strong foundation for quality learning. For example, providing natural lighting is the “sky-bridge,” the school’s spine and community hub.

Completed below budget and on schedule in August 2021 for the start of the school year, the project first challenged the designers how to honor the legacy of Senator John S. McCain III. This project’s design phase already started when the pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020. Working at home, the team determined how technology and smooth implementation would allow all teams to successfully deliver the project.