Carson Construction Documentation

Description from Architect

Carson Elementary opened in fall of 2004. With the help of a motivated and hardworking PTA and school staff, Design Concepts created a themed playground offering play elements and social gathering spaces to both the school and the community. Like all Learning Landscapes, the playground is open for use in the evenings and on the weekends and the community is encouraged to use the site during non-school hours.

Carson’s site was developed with a theme based on the Fibonacci series, a simple mathematical number series which can be found in biology, chemistry, and physics (such as in natural organisms like the nautical shell, a pine cone, and a fl ower head). The playground is fi rst organized by a series of radiating arcs representing the mathematical series. The theme also appears in the outdoor classroom with a nautical shell shaped shade shelter over spiraling seat boulders. A local artist, Chevo Studios, designed the seating and then sandblasted a series of fl ower images into the boulders which illustrate the organization of the Fibonacci series.

Other learning and art opportunities include banner poles, a tile reveal on the seatwalls, a butterfl y garden and a “how far can I jump” game. Hopscotch and 4-square courts are made into butterfl ies and dragonfl ies with brightly colored, custom striping. A volunteer build day was held to help lay sod and plant trees so the school and community could further contribute to their new playground. The project had an aggressive construction document schedule that underwent review by a large design review group.