2025 Texas & Southeast Best Projects
Award of Merit, K-12: Claxton Elementary School

Claxton Elementary School
N.C.
Award of Merit
Submitted by SfL+a Architects
Owner Guilford County Schools
Lead Design Firm SfL+a Architects
GC/CM Samet Corp.
The new elementary school was designed with 31 adaptable learning environments to support interdisciplinary collaboration and evolving pedagogical approaches. At the heart of the school is a learning commons that is surrounded by flexible collaboration spaces and sliding glass walls.
From concept to completion, the design team used Autodesk Revit and ENSCAPE to develop a fully coordinated, clash-detected digital model. The immersive 3D model integrated all building systems and allowed stakeholders to virtually walk through the building, evaluate finishes and understand spatial relationships before construction began. Systems and layout were developed using life cycle cost analysis. Emphasis was placed on long-term operational efficiency and durability.
Dry-in was delayed due to a labor strike affecting mineral wool supply. The team sourced material from other projects and met with the manufacturer in Detroit to secure post-strike material. The two-year project was completed at budget and on schedule with no OSHA recordable incidents and no lost-time accidents.


