Global Village Academy

Global Village Academy is a K-8 charter school that emphasizes an international curriculum and combines immersion education in three world languages (Chinese, Spanish and French). The design concept for the exterior of the building integrated international flags and includes Tilt-Up reveal patterns and paint schemes to add a cultural statement to the building for the activities within.

Making this design a reality required large uninterrupted wall space and minimal wall joints which made Tilt-Up wall construction the perfect choice. However, the design teams had already agreed (due to expansive soil) to use a structural slab on 8-inch void-form supported by drilled piers. Panel casting area now became a cost issue. Waste slabs for the entire building would be too expensive. So, the floor design was changed to handle panel construction weights and erection stresses to minimize waste slabs. A small waste slab was required and used twice. After panel construction was completed, this waste slab was then resurfaced and used as a hard surface playground/basketball court.