About
The School District of Philadelphia commissioned SALT to design the schoolyard at Farrell Elementary School to support playful learning initiatives. In close collaboration with the Mural Arts Restored Spaces Initiative (MARSI), SALT developed a schoolyard design that was guided by student input and incorporates a variety of surfaces, textures, and shapes, which help create a wide range of experiences throughout the schoolyard.
Project Details
Located in the Rhawnhurst neighborhood, Farrell Elementary serves over 1,200 students in grades K-8 in one of the most culturally diverse schools in Philadelphia, where more than 30 languages are spoken by the student population. Through a year-long, participatory process, students were engaged in games and activities to gather ideas about play, identify desired programs, and prioritize areas for site improvements. Funded by the William Penn Foundation, this project was designed to advance literacy and learning goals while promoting playful learning in public schoolyards.
The schoolyard concept, “A Living Place: It’s Where Life Takes Place!” emerged from students’ fascination with the energy and vibrancy of an active beehive. Drawing inspiration from honeycomb patterns and the social habits of bees, SALT designed a dynamic schoolyard rooted in native ecology with a distinctly international ambiance. The design reflects student input, incorporating a wide range of surfaces, textures, and shapes to support active and passive play, performance, socializing, gardening, and nature exploration.
Key features include a Gateway Plaza, a Literacy Loop, an Outdoor Classroom & Performance Space, separate play areas for older and younger children, and a Native Pollinator Meadow & Nature Discovery Trail. The Meadow forms a substantial green buffer near the street, filled with urban-hardy native perennial grasses, flowers, and trees. A trail winding through the meadow provides a hands-on space for natural science learning. Hand painted by MARSI artists, the colorful Literacy Loop features a vibrant pavement mural that tells the story of the honeybee and local ecology, adorned with depictions of native plants and animals. The pavement mural incorporates student artwork, multiple languages, and playful learning prompts to engage students as they play outdoors.
Amenities
Outdoor classroom and performance space with stage
Two play spaces for children of varying ages
Basketball and volleyball courts
Nature Discovery Trail with new native plantings buffering the adjacent roadway
Literacy Loop art mural
Large group seating areas
Collaborative playspace with gaga pit
Contact SALT Design Studio info@saltdesigns.com SALT Design Studio Farrell Elementary School Project
Construction Details
Design Firm
SALT Design Studio
Subconsultants
David Mason + Associates
Rodriguez Consulting, LLC.
General Contractor
TE Construction Services
Collaborators
Mural Arts
Funders & Supporters
School District of Philadelphia
William Penn Foundation
Total Cost
$972,000
