Battle Academy
TWH Architects was charged with designing the first of two urban elementary schools to be built in Chattanooga in many, many years. Battle Academy is a magnet program and accepts students from throughout the County School system with the intention that working parents in the downtown area would be able to enroll their children in a quality school close to their place of business. Because of the school's unique role, the program included a daycare facility and had to function as a community center during off hours.
Battle Academy is located near the southern end of Chattanooga's Central Business District at the intersection of two major streets. The multi-story, L-shaped building plan creates a protected open space for student pick-up and drop-off and playgrounds while maintaining a built edge along the two major streets. The red brick design is compatible with the fabric of the historic district and connects the building to the rest of the neighborhood.
The school is divided into two distinct parts. The first contains classrooms, administrative offices, and support spaces. The second houses a large dining area, kitchen, indoor play/assembly space, and the library or media center. The second part of the building is designed to serve the surrounding community after school hours and during the summer months, while the first is accessible only to students and staff when school is in session.
Battle Academy pioneered several “green” building techniques for the Hamilton County School system. Through careful siting and control of the window and room proportions the upper level of the school can be illuminated entirely by daylight, minimizing the need for artificial lighting during the daytime hours. The school is the first and only school in the area to feature a “green roof” where students will be able to cultivate plants and have other outdoor activities.
