Ernest Stapleton & Maggie M. Cordova Elementary Schools

APS Tony Hillerman Middle School | Tse’Yi’Gai High School | Isleta Elementary School | Stapleton/Cordova Elementary Schools | T’siya Elementary and Middle School | Valencia High School

Designing two new elementary schools in Rio Rancho presented an opportunity to make a statement about the identity of this young, growing city. Ernest Stapleton Elementary replaces an existing school campus on a nearby site that was comprised entirely of metal modular buildings. Maggie M. Cordova Elementary is an entirely new school that was designed in a rapidly growing area of the city. Both schools are identical in design and layout, but were given different color schemes and entry canopy designs to add unique individual character. The schools were designed to provide simple circulation and good daylighting for a population of 800 students.

The site design is focused on separating pedestrian, bus and drop-off traffic, ensuring safety and easy circulation, and divides the play areas into appropriate locations for playground versus multi-purpose and ball fields.  Both schools incorporate steel sunshades, sleek glass and metal infill panels on the exterior, balanced with a masonry structural skin. Inside the buildings, wayfinding is aided by geometric color compositions which are more sophisticated and three-dimensional than is typical for elementary school patterning. These wayfinding colors provide connections between the exterior entries and interior classroom nodes, linking the floors, walls and skylights at each node to create a functional yet playful splash of color. The schools were designed and bid as a single package in order to streamline the project schedule and take advantage of construction cost savings.

Location: Rio Rancho, NM
Size: 76,000sf each