T’siya Elementary and Middle School

Elementary Schools | Middle Schools | High Schools | Specialized Educational & Administrative Facilities | K-12 Trends

Located a mile north of the Pueblo of Zia on a mesa with a view of Sandia Peak, T’siya Elementary and Middle School replaces the Pueblo’s original K-6 school.  The new facility allows the Pueblo to accommodate 156 students up to the eighth grade. The materials and colors of the building, both inside and out, were chosen to recall the decoration of traditional Pueblo buildings. The design of the school centers on a circular plaza.  This outdoor space is used for community gatherings and dances, as well as an outdoor teaching area. The plaza divides the school into elementary school and middle school areas. Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade is located near the library, administration spaces and an elders’ room. This room is a place for tribal elders to teach the students about their culture and for bilingual education in English and Keres, the Pueblo’s native language.

As the largest building on the Pueblo, the school represents a crossroads between the Pueblo’s history and its future.  It realizes this representation by integrating both Zia culture and modern technology, including an integrated fiber-optic computer network.  The outdoor plaza and giant sundial are excellent examples of how the learning environment for students can be enhanced through architecture and can also teach students about themselves and their culture.  As a focal point for the Pueblo, the school will serve not only the children, but the entire community for many years to come.

Location: Pueblo of Zia, NM
Size: 45,000sf each