Buckingham Primary
& Elementary School
Healthy eating, physical activity, and environmental stewardship are at the core focus of Buckingham County Primary & Elementary Schools’ building and landscape design. The graphic communication system serves as a comprehensive teaching tool that brings these concepts of the school campus alive by prompting students, teachers, and the community to make healthy decisions.
Client
Buckingham County Public Schools
Architect
VMDO Architects
Location
Dillywn, VA
Scope
Wayfinding, Signage, Environmental Graphics
Research Driven Design
The transformation of the Buckingham County Primary & Elementary campus reveals a story of renewal and reclamation of both health and place. The interior and exterior educational graphics are inspired by a collaborative research study—how architecture and design can influence actions by connecting students with an environment focused to inspire healthy decisions and a love of learning.
Teachable Moments
Educational signage renders the school’s healthy design features explicit and exciting. Stairways, water fountains, healthy food options, and sustainable building materials—co-located with illustrated, inquiry-based lessons—foster teachable moments about movement, hydration, healthy eating choices, and energy conservation.
Storytelling Narrative
The wayfinding brings the natural environment to life for students. Moving from the Primary to the Elementary School, the campus’ wayfinding follows the progression of Virginia’s geography (mountains to ocean) and assigns a habitat to each grade. This branding encourages grade-level identity and introduces students to the natural world around them.
A Campus Designed to Inspire
Through its architecturally and landscape integrated graphics, the campus celebrates learning, encourages connections to nature, and empowers students to become active stewards of their individual communities and identities.
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