LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/565028
36 Landscape Architect and Specifier News When designing 21st century educational environments, the focus is often on opportunities within the classroom. For the students at Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School, however, the emphasis on flexible learning has shifted from indoors to outside in their re-imagined playground. Originally constructed in 1997 in Irvine, California, the K-12 campus recently completed the transformation of their lower campus play zone. The goal: to complement their educational program of relating to and sharing Israeli history through play. The birth of the Israeli Discovery Playground transformed what was once an outdated, cookie-cutter playground with excessive hardscape into a series of diverse spaces designed to be learning and play spaces. By redefining the concept The birth of the Israeli Discovery Playground at Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School in Irvine, Calif. transformed an outdated, playground with excessive hardscape into diverse spaces for learning and play. The new K-5 Outdoor Classroom and playground area is an exploratory learning garden, art studio, amphitheater, and nature park, featuring new playground equipment, a blacktop play area, a tricycle maze, and a dry riverbed with a farm water pump. By redefining the concept of "outdoor classrooms" and pushing the boundaries of what exterior space can provide for students, the campus gained 7,000 sq. ft. of programmed teaching space.