Abstract
After witnessing the challenges and pressures brought on by Covid-19, design-build students at [redacted] were determined to proactively respond to the needs of their local community. They identified several focus areas and undertook an extensive outreach effort, leading to a partnership with the local school district. The A. B. McDonald Elementary Outdoor Classroom is a unique collaboration between the two schools, providing invaluable experience and knowledge to the students who created it, and safety and resources to the students that will use it for years to come. A. B. McDonald Elementary has long advocated for outdoor learning and encourages students to use the greenery surrounding the school for varied educational activities. An earlier outdoor seating area was located on the site in the past, but was removed in 2018 for safety reasons. With the onset of Covid-19, the loss of that space was acutely felt by the school. They required a permanent and centralized focus area to organize the outdoor space. This would allow students to socially distance and safely enjoy the benefits of the outdoor learning while giving the teachers the structure needed to lead class activities from a single location at the edge of the school gardens and learning forest. The team worked with the principal and staff, school district officials, and engineers to ensure that the classroom would both withstand the test of time, and adapt well to varied and changing instructional needs for the school. For now, it will help young students from kindergarten to 5th grade more safely transition back into normalcy as it also serves as a shaded outdoor lunch room. In the future, it will serve as a safe and durable gathering space for the children of the community to learn.