The bright, open, and lively new Goodlettsville Elementary School earned MNPS and its design partners an award from the Tennessee School Boards Association for outstanding new school design.
The district and the architecture firm for the project, Goodwyn Mills Cawood, received the 2023 School of the Year for Excellence in Architectural Design award at TSBA’s annual convention Saturday.
“Every time I visit Goodlettsville Elementary, I’m struck by the big spaces, the commitment to sustainability, and, best of all, the way the building elevates teaching and learning,” Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle said. “Congratulations and thank you to our MNPS Facilities, Maintenance, and Construction team, to Goodwyn Mills Cawood, to Principal Tracy Gibson and her staff, and to everyone else who helped bring this beautiful school to life.”
Several components of Goodlettsville Elementary have been noted for adding to its aesthetic sensibility and ease of use by the students, teachers, administrators, and support staff.
The articulated entrance canopies allow a visitor to easily know where the main entrance is located and serve as covered waiting areas for bus and car riders. By incorporating numbered entrance signage on large brick piers, the pre-K drop-off, events entrance, and community access are easily identifiable as staff, students, and visitors navigate the school campus.
The great hall features a large double-height space filled with natural light and a unique slide for students (and the occasional adult) to use as they go from the second floor to the first floor.
An overarching theme throughout the school is the use of color derived from the Goodlettsville Elementary logo and the school’s academic “houses.” These colorful shapes are used in the playroom, dining area, great hall, and throughout the classroom wings.
Sustainable design is also at the forefront of the project’s mission, aligning with MNPS’s goal of achieving LEED Gold certification for all new buildings. The school uses a geothermal heating and cooling system to minimize utility costs.
The 81,750-square-foot building sits on the same site as the previous Goodlettsville Elementary facility.
