The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education is making progress in its plans to replace the existing Carrboro Elementary School building with an updated one on adjacent land.
The board unanimously approved a schematic design for the new facility at a meeting on May 21. The replacement project is funded by a 2024 Orange County bond referendum, which split $300 million between CHCCS and Orange County Schools for major school infrastructure projects.
Located northwest of downtown Carrboro, the “compact” design for the new elementary school focuses on sustainability, site efficiency, and nature, with plans for a meadow at the site’s entrance, bike paths, trails, gardens, and durable materials in an effort to minimize the amount of building maintenance required over time. The board approved initial site plans for a new 30,000 square-foot building in February, which aims to offer larger classrooms for cooperative learning opportunities. The new school is slated to open fall 2028.
With larger classrooms, the district is not looking to add more seats, but offer more flexibility for a variety of lesson types. (Rendering via CHCCS.)
“I love the renderings in the way that it incorporates [and] fits into what we think about as Carrboro,” Board Member Rani Dasi said. “So thank you for respecting the space and the values of the community.”
The first floor of the school would include classrooms for lower grade levels and a media center. With a movable wall separating the gym and cafeteria, the project’s principal architect Katherine Peele said the space could allow for nighttime performances, fit with a stage and room for up to 600 parents. The design for the second floor features classrooms for third, fourth, and fifth grades, as well as a maker space.
The approved design for the new Carrboro Elementary School’s gym and cafeteria, which would allow for after-school performances and events. (Photo via CHCCS.)
With an emphasis on nature, the campus design also features a loop trail, as well as a walking and bike path connecting the school to the Shelton Street intersection. Bike racks would be installed at the school’s main entry canopy to serve the more than 65 students already biking to the school, according to Peele.
The design also features gardens to support new school programs, as well as two fenced-in play areas at the site’s rear.
“We’ve incorporated two areas of turf [there],” Peele said. “[Students] do a lot of pickup soccer games. This is a dual language school and they’re an important part of the culture, having soccer as part of the playground areas [and as] one of the features that’s included here.”
Approved site design layout for the new school campus. The location of the original building is set to be replaced with an entry multi-purpose field. (Rendering via CHCCS.)
Approval for the design follows community meetings and input from stakeholders, including teachers, staff, parents, and neighbors to the school. Helping lead the presentation, CHCCS Deputy Superintendent for Operations Al Ciarochi said the latter will hopefully benefit from the replacement project alongside enrolled K-5 students. Instead of the current baseball field, the updated campus would include a multi-purpose field at entry, offering a weekend-amenity for the neighboring residential community.
“We are also being very mindful of where the stormwater goes on the site with the past history of some flooding at surrounding properties,” Peele added. “And also we have neighbors directly to the rear as we push the school sort of further back. And so light pollution reduction, making sure the lights don’t spill over into somebody’s bedroom window. We’re really trying to be very purposeful and mindful about that.”
Approved media center design for the new Carrboro Elementary School, which includes first and second-level entrances and an upstairs reading nook. (Rendering via CHCCS.)
The building itself would rely on natural materials, like brick and metal, which Peele said is both more economical and long-lasting. The project’s other sustainability commitments include integrated solar shading, diverting construction and demolition waste to recycling, and planning for neuro-inclusion. Looking at design and color, Peele said it is important to avoid elements that might cause distress in neurodivergent children.
“A lot of times for some reason, architects think putting primary colors everywhere in an elementary school is a good idea,” she explained. “And we really believe in going in with calming colors and materials and not overstimulating children. So that’s our approach. A lot of daylight is good, and we’re going to be doing as many windows as we can, budget allowed. And just again, thinking about that environment of not overstimulating kids.”
Calling it a “surgical exercise,” Peele said the team’s main challenge is keeping the existing school operational during construction. Temporary entrances and construction fences will be installed in the spring, with a yearlong formal construction process set to begin summer 2027. Once built, teardown of the old facility, site work, and landscaping can occur.
To hear the full presentation, click here.
Featured image via Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
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