Sandy Hook Elementary School

Schools are often the “fabric” of communities. Ideally, they weave together a vibrant and nurturing environment for students with spaces where the community can come together for activities and gatherings. They offer resources not only for students, but for neighbors of all ages.

Conceptualization for the new Sandy Hook Elementary School was a means for the Newtown, CT community to come together and envision how the space could be redefined. The previous school had been demolished in late 2013 and the new 86,800 SF school would house students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. The $50 million cost would be covered by the state.

The School Based Building Advisory Committee (SBBAC), comprised of the board of education, teachers, staff, parents, town employees, community representatives, and the design and construction teams, voiced their opinions in a series of workshops. Through the workshops, the construction and design teams could ensure that the shared community “voice” was incorporated into the project. Feedback from these workshops included thoughts on where the new school would be located, the best way to address security concerns, supporting the educational mission in a safe learning environment, and the overall look and feel of the school.

Challenge
Through the workshops, it was discovered that geography and local ecology were an important part of the pride and identity of the school and community. These were heavily considered in the positioning and the architecture and design of the school.

Lynn Brotman Interior Designs was seeking an environmentally clean tile for the restrooms in the school. The look needed to be vibrant, fun, welcoming and warm. Overall, it was critical that the building feel safe, happy and warm. With the amount of thought and input that was gathered, keeping with the desired aesthetic was critical. The designer at Lynn Brotman had used Mosa tile in the past and had it in mind for Sandy Hook.

Solution
Creative Materials focuses solely on the commercial construction industry. For nearly twenty-five years, the company has been guiding architecture firms, developers, and corporate multi-unit brands through product specification for large, commercial construction jobs only. This focused approach allows Creative Materials to offer designers consultative services on which products will work best in commercial spaces.

Mosa and Creative Materials have forged a strong partnership based on both companies’ strength supplying products in the  commercial construction space. Mosa offers aesthetically beautiful tile collections that far exceed industry standards for commercial applications. As the only tile manufacturer to offer Cradle-to-Cradle Certified porcelain tile, Mosa literally sets the standard for sustainability. Mosa also offers a vast array of color and finish options, and all tile is rectified to precise tolerances which allow for the achievement of tight grout joints while minimizing the risk of lippage. Mosa’s tile is appreciated in commercial spaces such as Sandy Hook for all of these reasons. Since Creative Materials solely works in the commercial construction space, and the Mosa products work so well in that space, a strong partnership is only natural.

When searching for a tile product that would allow for the creation of a vibrant space, the interior designers on Creative Materials internal sourcing team immediately recognized that the range of colorways offered in the Mosa Global and Mosa Colors collections would be perfect. Recommending Mosa products to give life to the community’s “voice”, Creative Materials teamed up with up with Lynn Brotman Interior Design to develop a cheerful mosaic-look for the bathroom walls at Sandy Hook Elementary in shades of blue, green, yellow and white. The overall effect is joyful and fun.

The new school was completed on July 29, 2016. Members of the Newtown Public Building and Site Commission purchased and donated three bells from Cosanti in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The three bells represent important aspects of the legacy of Sandy Hook School. They are: Our Children Our Future, Literacy, and Nature Conservancy.

Creative Materials is honored to have played a role in the construction of this school that has created a nurturing environment for students, brought a community together, and incorporated such enduring concepts into the foundation of the school.

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