A 51,000 s.f. alternative high school (9-12 th grade) with a curriculum which focuses on traditional Native American artisan practices. Initially planned to accommodate 250 students with expansion provisions of up to 400. The $7.2M budget includes kitchen, cafeteria, admin, academic classrooms, technical classrooms, studios, music room, and media center.

The design process began with a Charrette - where the Studio SW Design Team stayed in Jeddito for several days working with curriculum development teams, educators, and the school community. The goal was to develop a facility that would support an innovative arts curriculum with science, math, history, and writing supporting the mission of training youth to be successful, professional artists in a global economy. The curriculum is also based on the idea that high level art and craft are taught in an “apprentice” and “student” environment. The facility has spaces that accommodate master artists demonstrating skills and mentoring students as they develop these skills. The facility has spaces to accommodate the development of student portfolios, store/archive artwork, and display artwork. The building will be a place to create student work and to celebrate it.

Special features of the school include daylight that is conducive to art development, long views to outside, windows that allow artists to see out but prevent a “working in a fishbowl” feeling for the artist who requires privacy, and delivery areas for art materials (metal, clay, papers) directly adjacent to art studios. The facility also includes areas for dining, performing, research, music, and access to health, counseling and support.

Building materials were chosen that are compatible with the local colors and encourage employment of local tradespeople.

LOCATION: Jeditto, Arizona (Navajo Nation)
CLIENT: Cedar Unified School District #25
DATE OF COMPLETION: 2005
SIZE: 51,000 s.f.
FEATURES: A remote campus progammed to support an innovative curriculum focussed on artistic and cultural vocational skills.