School Description
Carson opened its doors in 1952. The school was named after Mary G. Carson, who served in the Denver Public School system for forty-five years as a teacher and principal. Her first teaching assignment in 1897 was in the old Webster school, now replaced by Bryant-Webster.Carson Elementary received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award in 2004.
Learning Landscapes Description
The plan focuses on architectural elements of building, gathering, shade, and general use. Radial symmetry organized the elements including a “what if” garden, traditional play equipment, and a Bosque.
Mary G Carson Elementary School
Construction Date
2004
Landscape Architect
Design Concepts
Play Equipment Vendor
Play World Systems
Biennial Tree Garden
Biennial of the America’s Volunteer Tree Planting
Tree Garden Design
Master Plan
Vision
To transform the outdoor environment into a nurturing, dynamic and integrated space. To enrich the surrounding environment, the community and indoor environment of the school, by enriching the schoolyard.
Goals
- To create a nurturing space, design age appropriate play areas, an ECE area, primary area, intermediate area, create quiet or contemplative spaces, create a “what if” science garden, create “the Bosque” – a damp, cool, shaded area, provide greening of the school, more grass areas for play and more trees for shade.
- To create a dynamic space, provide interactive learning tools and create a diversity of interesting areas that encourage discovery and interaction, create a “what if” science garden, an outdoor classroom/ amphitheater, interactive play equipment, an adventure trail and increase the potential for fun.
Design Development
Description
The plan focuses on architectural elements of building, gathering, shade, and general use. Radial symmetry organized the elements including a “what if” garden, traditional play equipment, and a Bosque.
Illustrative Drawing
Design Development Drawings
Presentation Boards
3D Model
Collage
Construction Documentation
Description from Architect
Carson Elementary opened in fall of 2004. With the help of a motivated and hardworking PTA and school staff, Design Concepts created a themed playground offering play elements and social gathering spaces to both the school and the community. Like all Learning Landscapes, the playground is open for use in the evenings and on the weekends and the community is encouraged to use the site during non-school hours.
Carson’s site was developed with a theme based on the Fibonacci series, a simple mathematical number series which can be found in biology, chemistry, and physics (such as in natural organisms like the nautical shell, a pine cone, and a fl ower head). The playground is fi rst organized by a series of radiating arcs representing the mathematical series. The theme also appears in the outdoor classroom with a nautical shell shaped shade shelter over spiraling seat boulders. A local artist, Chevo Studios, designed the seating and then sandblasted a series of fl ower images into the boulders which illustrate the organization of the Fibonacci series.
Other learning and art opportunities include banner poles, a tile reveal on the seatwalls, a butterfl y garden and a “how far can I jump” game. Hopscotch and 4-square courts are made into butterfl ies and dragonfl ies with brightly colored, custom striping. A volunteer build day was held to help lay sod and plant trees so the school and community could further contribute to their new playground. The project had an aggressive construction document schedule that underwent review by a large design review group.
Illustrative Plan
Construction Drawings
Play Equipment