Rutherford
Elementary School is located in the fields that surround Stillwater,
a historic river town on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
The
K-6 school is a member of the surrounding neighborhood, and respects
the community in both its character and scale. From the outside,
it is a collage of shapes, texture, color, and materials, a profile
of the bygone village with its tight community bonds designed by
BWBR Architects. Care was taken to make sure that the building
would not dominate the landscape, and that it would blend with the
traditional homes being built nearby.
Wetlands,
ponds, and native plantings are connected by a “trail of learning”.
This path surrounds the 16-acre school grounds and provides opportunities
for outdoor learning experiences. It also connects other components
such as parking, circulation, playgrounds, and ballfields.
