Dressel Elementary

Dressel Elementary School opened in 2017 to relieve overcrowding throughout the Lindbergh School District and replaced a small aging school on the site with a new 98,000-square-foot building designed to provide a welcoming environment for 21st century learners in kindergarten through fifth grade. Despite being set into a hillside, the building’s layout allows natural light to permeate the public spaces and classroom wings. The changing nature of light throughout the day animates the carefully chosen material palette: natural finishes in a range of neutral colors accented with lively shades complementary to the district’s green and gold. Each grade level wing features different accent colors to assist young learners with wayfinding and has an open STEM project area to enhance student learning and exploration. The large multipurpose cafeteria located inside the main entrance is wrapped with natural light from translucent clerestory panels and a large window wall. The height and angle of the cafeteria ceiling are designed to reduce sound in the active space, and warm wood panels on both the walls and ceiling double as acoustical panels. The circular light fixtures create both variety and interest, as well as reducing the height of the space to provide a feeling of comfort for elementary students. The circle theme is carried throughout the building, and is featured in the library’s furniture, casework, built-in reading nook, and lighting.