The design of the primary school is a combination of intelligent design practices and economy. With a strict budget of $32,000 each piece had to be methodically placed. Where possible, labor intensive practices were valued over costly materials and construction methods. Each CMU block will be made on site, and with the exception of a welder, power tools will not be available. It is a modern design built by basic hand tools.

Because of Burkina Faso’s intense hot climate, providing a school capable of being passively cooled was the top priority. Walls are made of CMU’s which are dense and capable of capturing the cooler night temperatures dispensing it throughout the day. To do so, the walls had to be kept out of the direct sunlight. The roof structure provides generous overhangs where needed to block the intense heat of the daytime sun. Where the most protection is needed, on the east and west sides, the overhangs provide spaces for outdoor classrooms. The outdoor classrooms also serve as a place for the kids to develop social skills as they congregate before and after school

The school is without electricity which presented the challenge of providing adequate indirect day-lighting. The windows and doors have operable louvres to help provide lighting control. The door and a window align with the chalkboard to give the front of the classroom the most light. The lattice CMU wall provides nearly 4 square meters of opening for natural light to flood through. The clerestory on the north side of the school, is partitioned off using locally sourced cane. This creates a unique aesthetic, while still providing a sense of security.

DESIGN CONCEPT

PROJECT TEAMAbigael WellerAlaa AlRadwanBeatriz JuanBenjamin Hall

Brandon RoelligBrianna McKenzieBrittany LaytonCesar Valdez

CJ ObermaierJuan FernandoKurtis GibsonMat Stockstill

Olivia SnellPaula VivesWill Stone

1] 3 classrooms 7x9 meters 2] Rotate classrooms to save wall area

3] Cover classrooms with roof to keep sun off of walls

FLOOR PLAN

SITE PLAN

CLASSROOM CLASSROOM CLASSROOMOUTDOORCLASSROOM

OUTDOORCLASSROOM

VERANDA

SPORTS FIELD

JATROPHABUSHES

GATHERING TREE

RAINWATERCOLLECTION

GA

RD

EN

WINTER SOLSTICE SPRING EQUINOX SUMMER SOLSTICE AUTUMN EQUINOX8

a.m

.12

p.m

.4

p.m

.

An extensive solar study was completed to determine the size of the roof overhangs. The roofs main purpose is to keep the sun off of the building’s walls in order to reduce radiant heat transmittance. The east and west overhangs are both 3.5 meters deep to protect from the sun during the hottest times of the year, March/April.

The building is able to cool itself using passive ventilation. Cool winds are able to penetrate into the classrooms through the walls and windows. Warm air is able to rise and escape through the provided clerestory.

North Facade: March 22nd @ 3pm South Facade: March 22nd @ 3pm

Cast-In-PlaceConcrete Lintel

CMU Buttress

Casement Windowwith Operable Louvres

Grout-Filled & ReinforcedCMU Cavity

CMU Lattice Wall

The typical wall construction is of CMU that is made on site. The CMU’s are aligned so that every other core lines up providing both a core for structural reinforcing and a 5 cm opening for light and air to pass through. The CMU buttress provides structural stability for the wall and also provides sun shading for windows and doors.

CANE STRUCTURE

CMU LATTICE WALL

To maximize the amount of natural light being brought into the classrooms, a CMU lattice pattern was created to bring in light

through the wall. A clerestory was created on and partitioned off with a cane structure capable of being sourced locally

Standing SeamMetal Roof

Thatched LiningAcoustical Treatment

Lightweight SteelStructure

Cane Sun-Shading

Cast-In-Place Concrete Structure

CMU Partition Walls

EXPLODED AXON