Baker Demonstration School
Project Summary
Collaborating with The Lakota Group, Bailey Edward re-imagined Baker Demonstration School’s 1960’s era building to welcome students, staff, and visitors into their holistic learning environment. The imaginative design paired with professional renderings prompted a quick and generous donation to realize the school’s new vision.
Starting with the Lakota Group’s nature-first master plan, we examined multiple solutions to provide a secure and welcoming environment for the main entrance, lobby, front office areas, campus welcoming area, and Baker Parent Organization area. Branded exterior canopies direct the eye to the main entry, a secure vestibule with monitored electronic security systems, whose openness provides direct staff sightlines to the entry and draws people into the ‘living room’ of Baker School. The reconfigured interior centralizes all administrative functions, increases the visibility of the Baker Parent Organization by bringing them to the front of the school and encourages all of the school – adults and children – to meet, interact and hang out with each other in a relaxed communal environment.
location
Wilmette, Illinois
size
4000 sf
cost
$1 million
Specialties
location
Wilmette, Illinois
size
4000 sf
cost
$1 million
Specialties
Baker Demonstration School is a progressive school, one that does not stop at academics but attends to the whole child. This will be the first time that Baker has been able to change their environment to reflect who they are and their unique progressive educational mind frame. Creating a holistic learning environment that starts with The Lakota Group’s nature-first master plan and continues through the arrival sequence and into the building, there will be an emphasis on creating community and experiences for real-life learning for students and parents.
The plan will give Baker Demonstration School’s main entrance a strong presence and secure entry. Once securely inside, the lobby, parent and administrative areas need to look, feel and act as the primary place for the Baker community – parents, students and staff – to commingle and interact as one.
Our imaginative design and professional renderings prompted a quick and generous donation to realize the new vision for Baker Demonstration School.
Natural Connection
Baker’s experiential approach to learning nurtures the development of the whole child, and cultivates its students’ intrinsic motivation to learn and active participation in the learning process. As such, the campus outdoor areas contribute to the educational goals as much as classrooms and other interior areas.
To visually connect the new entry sequence with the outdoor nature paths and play areas, Bailey Edward integrated natural wood and stone elements throughout the design. Organic shapes mimic the natural plantings visible through the large windows in the ‘living room,’ conference room, and administrative offices. Sustainable materials were used in support of Baker’s progressive educational model and desire to raise grounded, productive, curious and creative citizens who will impact their current and future communities for the better.