Isleta Elementary School

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Located on a hilltop site with 270 degree views, Isleta Elementary School was designed to replace the Isleta Pueblo’s existing school which was outdated and too small for the current population.  The new school reflects the Isleta culture, and many design features were incorporated to tie the site and the school back to the customs of the people.  Isleta Elementary accommodates over 300 students from kindergarten through sixth grade.

Many sustainable design practices are evident in the school, all used as opportunities to teach the students about energy conservation and care in using the earth’s resources. Two cisterns capture rainwater and are placed within the main courtyard with valves that the students control so they can water gardens they plant.  The classrooms were oriented to mitigate direct sunlight while allowing daylight.  All of the classrooms incorporate operable windows with high performance glazing that complements the increased thermal insulation of the walls and building envelope.

This project was achieved using a design-build fast-track process that allowed the construction of the project to begin before the design of the project was complete.  Careful coordination and cooperation with the contractor, the Pueblo, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Dekker/Perich/Sabatini allowed for an early school opening and helped reduce construction costs.

Location: Pueblo of Isleta, NM
Size: 65,000sf