SAILING WESTLAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTION IN THE SOUTH LAKE UNION CULTURAL DISTRICT. MARITIME RESEARCH IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS AREAS CULTURE, AND THIS DESIGN GIVES THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THAT FORM OF LEARNING. PROVIDING AMPLE DAYLIGHT FOR THE SCHOOL WAS A DRIVING FORCE IN THE FORM AND LAYOUT OF SPACES AND THE MARITIME ENVIRONMENT AND THE SAILBOAT BECAME INSPIRATION FOR THE ROOF SUSPENSION DESIGN. THE SAILS FROM THE SAILBOAT WERE TRANSFORMED INTO THE ROOF SLABS AND THE MASTS AND SUSPENSION WIRES BECAME THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF STRUCTURE FOR THESE SAILS. THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE AND TRANSIT STOP BORDERING THE EAST SIDE OF THE SCHOOL KEEPS THE STUDENTS SAFELY CONNECTED TO THE PARK AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM. EACH GRADE LEVEL HAS TWO CLASSROOMS AND ONE BREAKOUT SPACE THAT ARE SEPERATED BY MOVEABLE PARTITION WALLS TO PROMOTE INTERACTION AS WELL AS ALLOW TIMES FOR SEPERATED STUDYING AND LEARNING. THE DESIGN INCORPORATES WET AND DRY RESEARCH LABS IN THE PARK ACROSSED THE STREET TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO STUDY AND LEARN FROM THE IMPORTANT AND UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE PROVIDES. A LARGE ROLLING HILL PROTECTED BY THE MASS OF THE BUILDING ALLOWS STUDENTS TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND STUDY WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THE SECURITY OF THE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS INVITE THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMEBERS TO ENJOY AND TAKE PART IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE FIRST LEVEL IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO HOLD ART CLASSES, MUSIC CLASSES, AND ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY. THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH LEVEL ARE MORE PRIVATE AND OPEN ONLY TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING SCHOOL HOURS GIVING THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SCHOOL. THE CAFETERIA AND GYMANSIUM WERE BOTH DESIGNED AS A CAMPUS STYLE LAYOUT SEPERATED FROM THE MASS OF THE SCHOOL SO THAT THEY CAN BE ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC AS WELL, HELPING TO UNITE THE COMMUNITY WITH THE STUDENTS AS A WHOLE. THE DESIGN EMPHASIZES INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND EXPLORATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS INVOLVEMENT AND INVITATION TO THE COMMUNTIY AND FAMILIES TO BECOME A PART OF THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS’ LIVES.