june 1 tea new campus meetings with architects detailed feedback

June 1 TEA Input Day CommentsJune 8, 2015

OverviewThe following input was captured from various student, staff and parent group interviews during the design team school site visit (at the Synagogue and Kings Beach campus) on June 1st. Architects from Pfau Long and Ward Young met with all grades, teachers and staff along with various attending parents to better understand the day-to-day workings, ideas, needs and value system of TEA.

Next StepsThis input will be reviewed and processed by the architect team to create a campus vision with design elements reflective of our school’s specific needs.

Overarching Themes from the DayThe following ideas reflect the main themes that came up the most often throughout the day:● Animal area (animal sanctuary, petting zoo, etc.)● Tree house● Zip line● Trampoline● Meditation space● Student builders● Teepees● Ropes course● Solar panels● Garden/greenhouse● Kitchen for student use (farm to table)

All Ideas CollectedFollowing are ALL of the wonderful ideas collected through the June 1st session, organized by grade/group and then sorted by topic area.

1st Grade Input

1/2Creating Paths Forwardwww.fresh-tracks.org

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● Outdoor Spaces○ Kindergarten: pond-frog habitat○ Obstacle course○ Dodge ball course○ Water features- pool/ponds/puddles○ Park○ Monkey bars○ Playhouse○ Club house○ Photography House○ Solar panels○ Animal sanctuary○ Garden/greenhouse○ Log cabin○ Treehouse!!○ Trampoline○ Baseball field

● Other Facilities○ Gym: for gymnastics trick room-- trampoline/foam pit○ Computer lab○ Auditorium- plays○ Woodward place○ Stage at the Hearth○ Cafeteria○ Fire Rescue room○ First aid room○ Energy room (to dispense energy when too energetic in class)○ Dance studio room○ Sewing room○ Super cool restroom○ Caves and secret passageways○ Secret doors○ Bigger classrooms○ Expedition room○ Calm Place○ Guild-- afternoon activities○ Indoor playground


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○ Science lab○ Informal classrooms○ Teacher’s lounge with hot tub and foot massage○ “In-trouble” room○ Principal’s office○ Kid’s lounge○ Pizza and ice cream○ Restaurant with more than pizza (healthy food, sushi)○ Music and art room○ Punching bag○ Treadmill○ After school space○ Library and room for book worms ○ Computer in library

● Playground Ideas○ Swings○ Zipline○ Ball pit○ Monkey bars○ Slides○ Trampoline○ Climbing wall○ Christmas tree spinner○ Drinking fountain○ Triangle monkey bars○ Tunnel○ Skate park○ Fire pole bars○ Wheel with handles○ Chain ladders○ Poles and ladders like at Lahontan ○ Spotting scope○ Bean bag○ Pirate ship○ School bell


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3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Input● Outdoor Spaces

○ “I want to help build!”○ Field with grass○ Outdoor classroom○ Meditation space○ Science lab in middle of nowhere (for nature science)○ Outdoor class-- like teepee idea○ Trampoline(s) with nets (a couple)○ Archery range○ Trash cans so we don’t litter and recycling○ Bear boxes○ Bird feeders○ Teepees scattered with speakers / intercom for communication○ Stage outside○ Courtyard for studying○ Pond (wetlands)○ Readiness for camping-- big equipment room○ Ways to get between classes○ Better pickup area/nicer common room and more ventilation○ Place to play for recess○ Pet station / petting zoo○ Craft station at recess○ Golf course○ Gardens / greenhouse (grow your own food and lunch day)○ Sadie’s model → carpet rolled out → retractable sunshade on

courtyard○ Signs for bus / safety signage○ Map sign and signs for parking○ Tunnels for basement/safety room○ Tree house/build-it-yourself○ Real authentic teepees (not plastic)○ Big clock for recess → intercom/bell/keepers to know when

recess is up○ Fencing around wetlands (might make it feel like prison,

something to protect fragile areas)○ Fence around property


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○ Kites for windy days and research, attachments for weather research etc.

○ Hammocks● Sports Areas

○ Ropes course-- yes!○ Dirt dodgeball course with fencing-- like coral or grass○ Gymnasium○ Stations / bike area (bike storage)○ Halfpipe for skateboards / bikes or ski○ Tennis court○ Soccer field○ Pool, diving board○ Track and field area○ Bungee jumping area○ Nordic track for biathlon team○ Ropes course will look different for different ages○ Places to go skiing

● Classrooms○ Big and comfy○ Library○ Bigger than now (70 sq ft)○ Room to work with technology○ Big classrooms with desks to store things○ Bathrooms every 5 acres (boy and girl in front of every

classroom)○ Separate rooms for music and art○ Bigger music rooms○ Elevators○ Teacher room / lounge○ Reading corner in each classroom (or tiny room with pillows)○ Office for teachers○ Bigger mess/common room and more ventilation○ Smarter design so don’t have to walk through classes○ Water bottle refill / sink in each class or outside each class○ Science room○ Lots of windows in classes○ Occupancy sensors


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○ Separate classrooms by grade○ Sound insulation / acoustic separation○ Nurse room / first aid room○ Outdoor walkways between classes○ Alarm for fires etc.○ Hearth → keep nature thing, use stumps and sticks but still

comfortable● Sustainability

○ Energy thing → solar, windmills○ Sewing room○ Grass roof / use green roof water as toilet water, grow food on

green roof○ EV bus○ Overhangs over windows to prevent overheating○ South facing windows for warmth○ Skylights / sun roof○ Low flow faucets○ Recycling water fountain (decorative)○ Compost bin○ Rainwater catchment basin

Middle School Input● Outdoor Spaces

○ Ropes course / playground for younger kids in meditation area○ How big is parking lot?

■ Envision more pedestrian○ Where will buses be?

■ Buses will be primarily at the drop off area or in the equipment shed for loading

○ If buildings are too close together could be a distraction■ Want to be further away from the little kids

○ Skate park○ Nature based → be able to look out onto nature from inside

buildings○ Solar panel roads○ Will there be deforestation?


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■ No, we plan to worm the buildings around trees so we don’t have to cut them down; like a 3D puzzle

○ How much of 42 acres will be built upon? ■ Min. our impact■ 60,000 sq ft buildings (1.5 acres)

○ Base building square footage on how much school is anticipated to grow

○ Field: put track around the field to minimize impact on natural environment

○ Zipline○ Open spaces and indoor/outdoor spaces for Crew○ Wall ball, foursquare and basketball○ Concrete wall○ Bike track around school○ First aid○ Will it be properly fenced?○ Fire danger considerations○ Re: flyover zone over campus: have a radio station at airport for

safety ○ Zone for dirt jumps and bmx track○ Community bikes○ Combined area next to parking lot to play, sit for end of day○ Drinking water fountains○ Special place for dogs, animal area○ How big is stream in wetland?

■ Varies by time of year○ Archery range○ Launch zone for skiing or maybe it’s a 5’ rock with sand at the

bottom○ Re: gym--will it have basketball etc?

■ Answer: Envisioning that gym will have climbing wall, indoor soccer, etc.; will be multi-sport and indoor/outdoor space

○ Question: What about windows in the gym? They might get broken…

■ Answer: We have ways to mitigate this problem○ Big covered open space


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○ Multiple different spaces○ Outdoor church style○ Teepees (like the ones at Truckee Home Fair)○ For inspiration for portable pods that can be rebuilt: Greg

Fleischman builds temples at Burning Man ○ Treehouses ○ Parking? (High School students want lots of parking)○ Where is playground?

■ Age specific. Grow organically.■ Less structure for younger, They play happily with no

playground (monkey bars and swings, not plastic)

● Classrooms○ Will we have lockers?

■ Split on whether they want lockers or not■ Small locker room■ Interested in having lockers for gym

○ Glass tubes between wings (one for each level) to attach different wings of school

○ Grass roof○ Dome on roof to see nature all around○ Question: Will the construction use recycled materials like

recycled cars?■ Answer: Try our best to use locally sourced, sustainable

materials ○ Campfire/hearth out in forest to keep expedition feel; Should be

a real fire, not gas○ Cafe → second floor of a main building. Indoor/outdoor seating

■ Outdoor eating area○ Comfortable seats (office chairs)○ Each person gets a desk○ Lots of windows○ Space on walls○ Whiteboards○ Big screens, built in projectors○ Bigger space for laptops and binders○ Adjoining bathrooms


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○ Dark colored walls / blue colors help learning○ What will be style?

■ Modern ■ Martis camp style■ Rustic / modern

○ What’s your budget?○ Extra accommodations for growth?○ Permanent desks○ Tables instead of desks○ Suspend desks from ceiling

■ Raise up to move out of way (hydraulic, winches in roof)

Faculty and Staff (Lower School)○ Proximity important for pre/K and lower school (should have

separate entrance)○ Schools goals → separateness, not apart. Upper school mentors

lower○ Place based curriculum○ Question: Does a class lab double as a science lab?

■ Answer: In some cases, yes (such as a language lab) ○ Do we need that many labs?

■ Maybe a classroom that is science lab could be homeroom in morning for HS

■ Lower school needs dedicated classes and labs. Need wall spaces for each teacher

○ Enrichment rooms○ Small spaces/break rooms○ Bulletin boards in hallways/mud rooms or showcase room in

enrichment area■ Working on authentic products and need a place to

display for public■ Goal is to showcase beautiful places; mud room doesn’t fit

with that model○ 2 separate art/music rooms. If together, soundproofed

■ Music and art rooms should be away from everything else○ 6, 7th, 8th needs own space○ Storage!


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■ Closets with doors / out of sight■ Walk-in closets■ Cabinets■ Shelves → bookshelves / Low bookshelves for K/1st■ Be able to hide away things / combo open and hidden

storage■ Not too far away / accessible■ Keep clutter down■ Space for wire shelves that could become cabinets later

○ Should there be on main door to outside or own entrance for each classroom?

■ 3rd up could have a common mudroom. Hallway into respective rooms

■ Barndoor style■ One-side could be a hallway, the other could be a

retractable wall○ Open breezeway. Keep outdoors walkways (part of EL and the

kids are hearty)○ Shouldn’t need to put shoes and coats in bathroom○ From a security standpoint we need controlled exits/entries○ Imagining sliding glass / french doors rather than a retractable

wall for lots of light○ Wall space is valuable (windows take away wall space)○ Need a traditional classroom to work. Kids can go outside

instead of opening a wall to the outside. Should make a building that feels open without retractable walls.

○ Pre K/K separate from lower school. Prefer them together. ■ Separate bathrooms■ One of the founding principles is younger kids learning

from older; doesn’t make sense to keep them separate■ Kindergartners like seeing older kids■ Common room → interclass mingling■ Holding tank for kids (end of day)

○ Picture wall of windows in classroom, sliding display wall (layers to put lesson things on)

○ Hinged door with whiteboard open so kids are outside○ Cafeteria?


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■ Red Truck model. Food available. Kitchen as a lan. Not one huge area, informal (plant grow, harvest, cook, eat)

■ Snack shack (everyone eats lunch there)■ If service low-income, need area to pump out food?

● A/C → scholarships

● Temporary Buildings○ While in temp buildings, how much noise?

■ Have construction people tell when○ What’s temp. campus going to be like and what’s backup?

■ 400 sq ft (33 x 11)■ Good lighting■ Plywood walls■ Come out on wheels (portable)

○ Bathrooms?■ Portables

○ Which lots would be built in phase 1?■ Build as quickly as possible. Residential component.

Economies of scale to build all at once■ Need kitchen, staff, enrichment first■ What are core things we need to run school?

● Sustainability ○ Garden and greenhouse

■ Food Hub talking about putting greenhouse■ Take food to food lab/kitchen

○ What’s height limit on buildings?■ More about density■ Consider development needs for water/sewer erc. not

ideal for much building○ Wetlands? Could you make them active?

■ Biodiversity, Recorded setbacks (learning opp.)■ Kids want frog habitat. Regulatory process (could create

pond elsewhere on property■ Would need natural in/outflow■ No natural water. Would have to get off roofs (stormwater

management)○ EIR: what animals?


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■ Raptor. Didn’t find bats. Maybe a couple of species concerns.

○ Short-term priority → build some of site■ Organically build rest■ Kids help

○ Wood structure?■ Not sure. Looking for long term sustainability ■ Solar power, wind farms, rain catchment ■ Would be cool to set an example (green building)■ Fluorescents → hate having lights in■ Skylights

○ Local people to build: need names?● Hearth

○ Seating? office chairs, logs ○ Space teachers have chosen. Sacred and special○ Work together with architect team?

■ Field trip-- look at options○ How far to walk to hearth? 3-5 min○ What kind of building where hearth is?

■ Might make subtle alterations to ground; no buildings○ Have kids help

■ Logs, sitting area (from on-site)○ Terraced seating / stage at hearth

High School Student Input● Classrooms

○ Don’t want an all school meeting place○ When does it plan to be finished?

■ Goal: start building in May. Couple years to build. Temp. buildings next year. Goal: for sophomores to be on site for a year

○ Don’t like lockers. Not important if we have parking lots○ Parking lots important ○ How do you feel about mixing with the lower school?

■ Mostly dislike (some like)■ Can be overwhelming to hang out w/ the little kids a lot


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○ Build a wall between upper and lower school that you have to climb over

○ HS-student-only lounge space○ Modern classrooms: less desks, open, couches, benches○ Chill lounge (need faculty and janitor)○ Place to buy food/drinks all day○ A no-adult room○ Projects for classes to build○ Science lab- special place for lab science / data analysis○ More like actual classroom○ Science Lab

■ Ventilation, supply washing, bunsen burners○ Will kids move to class- or will teachers move to classes?

■ Kids will move to classes○ Kitchen for culinary club

■ Microwave for HS kids lounge○ HS lounge and kids lounge○ Parking○ HS should get North if we get North, East, South, West model○ Need Harvard style, really big library

■ Cool to find hidden nooks that are quiet, can get away○ Will there be bells b/w classes? Would be helpful to be on time○ Gong, not a normal bell

● Sport Areas/Outdoor spaces○ Horse stables○ Swimming pool○ Locker room / showers make sense for adventure stuff○ Bike trails -- host events/comps.XC running○ Have kids build trails

■ free deodorant■ Need lockers with showers■ Cubbies

○ Thurs. ski day at Northstar○ Zipline between classrooms○ Ropes course in middle○ Bike racks / lock up

■ Bike storage inside


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■ Both indoor/outdoor storage○ Mtn. bike track around perimeter○ If had one huge court, HS wouldn't hang out there as much.

Want separate space from little kids. ■ Need a space to get away from lower school

Upper School Staff and Faculty Input● Other Facilities

○ Commercial grade kitchen (learning lab)○ Biodome garden/greenhouse○ Medical room○ Break room / faculty lounge → area to come together○ More than doubling students○ Observation area / high point for astronomy?○ Are the wetlands really wet?

■ Not really, but change with seasons○ Mudroom needs?

■ Gear checks■ Locker rooms

○ Nice to have a few trad. elements, but with a new twist○ Entry way-- welcoming spot when ppl first come in

■ Area to head to for answers■ Drop-off → welcome/office close to drop off

● Classrooms○ Open, flexible space options?○ Changeable zones

■ Range from folding walls, flexibility in furniture■ Flexible space depends on subject

○ Need visualization on wall -- even if in common area ■ Kids should be able to own their spaces

○ Standing desks on outside of room○ Tons of sunlight; no fluorescents○ Quiet is important / acoustic closure○ Wall space: whiteboards○ Seminar, small group space○ Solar○ More success in designated spaces and project space


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■ Balance b/w maker, open, flex. trade. etc. ■ Home base and wall space

● Important for EL model■ Age appropriate. Home base for lower school. Less need

for home base in MS/HS: subject specific○ Break out rooms

■ Now: live by breakout spaces■ 1 per 2 classes: over breakout/under breakout? if go

outside○ Separate MS/HS science labs-- maybe overkill?

■ Different lab space needs for MS and HS○ A/V, TV etc. in classrooms

Art Teacher Input● Art Room

○ Need space to hang, display, etc. (space mgmt)○ Shelving space is huge○ Safety: one of the biggest concerns

■ Clay → fine dust○ Room specific for kiln (contained or separate) vented with 240

plugs○ Build a wood kiln outside or separate space for kiln○ Ceramic area / wet media / dry media○ One larger general space (flexibility). Can be reconfigured. Huge

flexible space○ Large storage closet○ Digital component (computers, graphic capabilities, printers)○ Next year program-- add art to STEM

■ Work in same space, shared chamber○ Project: kiln, metal, digital, wood○ Could see getting into metal working / welding -- just need tools○ Outdoor project space○ Drain floor and sinks → essential

■ Hose/way to clean floor ○ Sinks: trap. Separate sink for ceramics○ Art displayed throughout entire campus○ Need to help create beautiful spaces


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○ Vertical spaces■ A wall for a mural

○ Gallery space (maybe upfront by office)○ Integrate with community○ Work out shared space with Roundhouse○ Storage

■ Built in for large items■ Vertical slot storage■ Space to dry paintings etc.■ Racks that fold, can tilt up

○ More space for buckets to recycle clay○ Presentation: whiteboard

■ Projector-- hang high so not in way■ Room projection/mirrored

○ Natural lighting great for painting and drawing■ More important for this this space

○ Daylight color for lights○ Northern light for painting○ Covered patio space

Music Teacher Input● Music Room

○ Acoustic and plugged in○ Extension cord to patio○ Acoustic quality in room○ Recording space○ Min. 2 rms that are soundproofed and auditorium for

performances (each rm 18-20 ppl max)○ Musical instrument storage-- in room

■ Barred instruments etc. specific■ Shelving■ Built in is great

○ Open floor. Carpet is good. Dark color■ Lower school sits on floor

Gear Room Input● Gear Room


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○ Food safe lockers○ Gear racks○ Transpo nearby○ Garage door (one on each end)○ Offices for facilities, trans and expedition should be close

together○ Fridge○ Shelving○ Safe (for arrows)○ Tuning station (skis), spot with good ventilation ○ Storage for propane, etc. Fireproof chamber○ Hose○ Ultimately kayak/boat storage○ Water electric, vent fan/hood○ Food prep-- staging areas. Separate location ○ Work tables and rat proof bins○ Ropes course → top of line cable○ Charging station○ Shelves with wheels○ Place to hang wet gear○ Place to de-rig rafts (and oar rigs)

■ Down the line/longer range○ Bike tuning○ Bike rack○ Bike storage○ Blower for boots○ Pulley system for hanging gear○ Flexible storage → conex box

Parent Input● Outdoor Spaces

○ Bike paths important link○ Open space surrounding campus (TDLT)

■ What will access be? Opportunity○ Meditation space? Maybe not under airplane route○ Opportunity for kids to help with building○ Sites with paths around-- identify sites


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■ Shaping long term campus■ Idea of legos-- can reconstruct

○ Get timber off the TEA land itself○ Moveable teepee○ Forts-- part of culture / curriculum○ Bridge/zipline → implies landing spot → implies pathways○ Lower/upper school distinctions○ Courtyard with picnic tables○ Outdoor sports courts○ Garage doors (instantly fits school culture)○ Don’t get too caught up with ropes course

■ Focus on teachers/curriculum ○ Budget? Phases?

■ Big picture → insure. Looking for world-class■ Construction: May 1 target■ Phase approach

○ Modules?-- goal: on Hopkins village site○ Spring structures for temp. houses○ Expedition Court: outdoor space

■ Zoning by age group■ Large enough that everyone (parents and kids) can gather

outside■ Flex spaces ■ Rough spaces that can withstand hard use

○ Need covered outdoor spaces○ Hearty kids. Variety of outdoor spaces-- outdoor, partial

coverings, eat outside○ Separation of grade appropriate levels

■ Hierarchy for outdoor spaces○ Bridge over wetlands○ Tree house-like environment ○ Look for connection to bike path to connect with longer bike

rides■ Connection to NS and Waddell Ranch

○ Trail or path around property for X-country team (running and ski). Need a longer loop?

● Parking Area


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○ Does portion of parking need to be underground■ What is plan for overflow parking?■ Don't ruin beautiful building / site with visual parking

impacts○ Where is transportation services? loading/unloading. CA law

related to parking and idling○ Martis Camp/Shaffer Mill Rd congestion at 3:30○ Separate upper/lower-- school drop off

■ Legally have to walk pre-K kids into classroom○ Islands at drop off are dangerous○ Include trans. plan from beginning → safety is important

● Kitchen/Multi-Purpose Space○ Industrial kitchen

■ Kitchen learning lab for kids■ Similar idea to flex spaces

○ Want kids cooking■ Support for industrial kitchen■ Consider staffing methods

○ At min., outdoor kitchen/bbq space○ Sense of scale? How big? How to get food?

■ Normally pedestrian○ Events at 3 spaces: 3 separate kitchens or connected kitchen to

spaces○ Multi purpose and classroom → missing natural light currently

■ Indoor/outdoor, glass garage door○ How big multi-use? Need big enough space for all

■ Gymnasium, performances open to community■ Specific performance space■ 300 people large

● Classroom○ Cozy, nice, warm○ Less echo, less institutional○ Expose insulation○ Radiant flooring for ed. purposes○ Educational component for solar○ Big fans○ Cascade Academy aesthetics


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■ The Rock on Brockway road■ Thoughtful, at a pace that makes sense architecture■ Keep with area’s architecture mumt. Gives nod to mining

and timber. Rustic, big beams. Exposed bolts.■ Rolling doors (esp in gym and art spaces)

Comments Via Website● Steve ([email protected]):

○ for the climbing wall: can we have a few routes with Auto-belays

and others with traditional belay setups? Also, bolted lead

climbing routes and a belay/rescue training area with 3"

diameter pipe belay points and ground anchors.

○ Sculpture garden

○ For the ropes course: High element, Jungle swing, Leap of faith,

Jungle pass, Zipline. Low element: Group teeter totter, Wire

cross (a la Mike Selby's course), The Wall!

○ Can we start building and using the ropes course right after we

close escrow?


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