Outdoor Learning Commons • Gridley High School

Project Description

Project Management by Dean Smith, D&D Learning Spaces

School’s Vision: To create an engaging outdoor learning environment adjacent to the Science Building, utilizing movable outdoor furniture designed in collaborative groupings to enhance a variety of school and community activities.

The Gridley High Outdoor Learning Commons was designed by D&D to be a tiered seating layout as to accomodate two large projection systems with powerful ceiling mounted projectors to electric controlled pull-down screens. From the pull-down screens mounted in front of the science building, the sitting-height tiki style chairs and tables populate the front and middle space, then transition to cafe-height tiki stools and tables from the middle the back. The back row was architectually designed with the roof’s support columns having a cafe-height square concrete surface table top where the tiki stools could surround the columns. Thus, the outdoor furniture provides theater-like seating for any lesson, presentation or activity. 

D&D collaborated directly with the school principal and staff from the design phase and furniture manufacturer chosen to the installation. This installation also included: one concrete and steel table tennis unit, and one set of concrete corn hole game units. All of the furniture and game units have the sturdy built-grade durability to last for many years of academic, recreational, and casual gatherings for the students and community of Gridley.

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