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AIA|DC CAE Tour of Achievement Prep Academy

Studio Twenty Seven Architecture and AIA|DC CAE hosted last night’s tour of the Wahler Campus. The project, completed in 2016, consists of two buildings connected by a covered walkway. The buildings, one a renovation and the other a new structure, were developed for Achievement Prep Academy, a high performing charter school in Ward 8.

The focus of the tour was to explore design strategies and logistics of the two-phased educational project. The group, lead by project architects Jake Marzolf and Natalie Mutchler, walked through both buildings, the exterior playground and courtyard space. The campus design reflects APA’s collaborative culture through organized environments and specific gathering places for students.

An open courtyard sits between the two buildings, programmed with a playground for the pre-K and elementary school students, two bio-retention ponds and an open-air pedestrian bridge. The pedestrian bridge serves as a unique connection between the elementary and middle school while also saving utility costs. The above ground connection eliminates the need for buried concrete trenches and reduces the number of utility connections to the city.

The buildings were joined using complementary massing and materials, creating a unified campus and a landmark to the neighborhood.

See more about APA’s Wahler Campus.