with Sara Glee Queen

The renovation of and addition to an abandoned concrete structure in the community of Vigia in Oaxaca, Mexico, will allow the community to open a Montessori School for children between 3-5 years of age. This project was designed in collaboration with a Professor of Architecture at NCSU School of Architecture, Sara Glee Queen.

The school is designed to open to the courtyard for most of the year, thus taking advantage of the dry and temperate climate. This creates a protected area for the children to play and expands the school’s usable space. As a teaching opportunity, the thick north wall is made of recycled tires and plastic bottles, with an opening to reveal the construction of the wall. This also serves as a way to educate the community about recycling on a large scale by making use of the abundance of these materials.

The school will bring new opportunities to the children of the community and help revive the village’s commitment to quality, early education.

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