A Case Study
Nipaquay Elementary School
About the CLIENT
Nipaquay Elementary, San Diego Unified's newest elementary school, will offer students an academic focus on Enviornmental Science and Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), supported by a sustainable design that incorporates solar power and energy efficiency.
bkm aligned resources to unify the design, sales, and project management team to optimize solutions. bkm worked hand-in-hand with manufacturing partners to move rapidly through approval processes and negotiated priority production status to meet project deadlines and milestone dates.
THE Challenge
Nipaquay Elementary and Design Firm, Domus Studio, arrived with a clear vision of adaptable spaces and various teaching environments for it’s future students. bkm was able to run with these ideas and sort through the details to develop a comprehensive furniture package. Working primarily with Smith System, the cohesive spaces flow together seamlessly while incorporating the needs of their students as they progress though this highly dynamic period of childhood.
project overview
The new campus features next generation first-grade through fifth grade classrooms with roll-up doors that open to the outside, creating hybrid indoor and outdoor learning spaces; a two-story entryway building that will house student services, a library, makerspaces, secure visitor check-in, and professional development spaces; dedicated play areas for UTK, kindergarten, and first-grade through fifth-grade students, and a versatile indoor and outdoor multipurpose facility. bkm utilized Smith System’s full breadth of line for this school solution which included student desks, seating, flexible and mobile storage, mobile whiteboards, wiggle stools, and children’s lounge seating. Smith System and Steelcase furniture fully outfits the school’s maker’s space and art room with durable tables and storage that will hold up to decades of creative and STEM education. The library incorporates both fixed and mobile book storage with multiple reading spaces—from private coves to collaborative tables—with multiple postures for students to explore and discover the space that best suits their individual needs.
77,250 sq. ft. of Education Space
scope
Spaces Include:
THE SOLUTION
OUR PARTNERS
Active Learning Classrooms (UTK-5th grade)
Reading Rooms
Makers Space
Art Room
Library
Virtual Tech Lab
NOTABLE PROJECT MOMENT
The nature of education required bkm to complete design, order, and install the project on a compressed schedule to ensure everything was in place for the school to welcome their inaugural 2022/23 class.
Contact us to get started on your next project.
Contact us to get started on your next project.
"At Nipaquay we have an opportunity to draw from best practices around the world and to demonstrate that through a thoughtful integrated project based approach to education, students can find both academic success and personal fulfillment."
MICHAEL GOODBODY
PRINCIPAL, NIPAQUAY ELEMENTARY
"We had a great experience working with bkm on the Nipaquay Elementary School furniture. Their team brought innovative and creative solutions in a short time frame, which helped to complement and support the overall vision for the new campus. They went above and beyond in helping us find flexible and dynamic furniture for each of the learning environments, and they were extremely thorough and responsive throughout the project. bkm made the furniture selection process easy and enjoyable, as well as collaborative."
ANNA NAGASUGI, AIA, LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE
DOMUS STUDIO ARCHITECTURE
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS