Marin Country Day School Upper School Improvements

Our most recent project with MCDS continues to connect students with the surrounding natural environment. The Upper School Improvements highlight sustainability, connection to the landscape, and active learning opportunities for students in these concepts.

The new two-story building is comprised of science classrooms with moveable lab tables and prep rooms as well as faculty offices. Large, sliding glass doors in each of the classrooms provide an opportunity to extend the learning environment out into the landscape. All sustainable building features, including visible water and energy metering, roof-mounted photovoltaics, daylighting, and a high-performance building envelope, are integrated into the student’s curriculum.

Site improvements involved an ecological restoration of the creek running along the eastern edge of the new building, where the project also includes outdoor classroom spaces for hands-on learning experience. The restoration of the upper playfield added a perimeter jogging track and a new garden where students learn about growing healthy snacks, harvesting, and water usage.