Santa Fe Indian School
Santa Fe Indian School
Plaza and Campus Overview
The overview of the plaza and campus illustrates the traditional Pueblo architecture of Northern New Mexico in the building mass, battered walls, stepped building heights, punched windows, and human scale. The building forms emanate from the land forms of the area.
Campus Master Plan
The master plan for the new campus called for completely replacing the 1930’s era buildings depicted in white at the bottom of the image. The master plan displays the breadth of the new school from orchards to wetlands, to outdoor teaching areas. The school balances classroom learning with learning from work in the fields and with the livestock to prepare the students for leadership roles within the Pueblo or in a urban setting.
Meandering Path and Courtyard
This image expresses the adobe tradition of building materials and portals and recalls the building mass and village-like organization of the Pueblos.
Pathway Home
View from the northeast to the student living area. Various tones of building color mimic the colors of newer Pueblo structures juxtoposed to long standing buildings.
Playtime
The stepped building forms build on the human scale, one-story mass fronting on the pedestrian walkway. The three story element recalls the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. The mottled stucco, punched windows, wood lintels, and scuppers recall the ancient dwellings of the Pueblos.
Rooftop Heights
The stairway on the left of the image leads to traditional rooftop performance spaces used for ceremonial dances and celebrations.
Sacred Mountain
This passageway, articulated with the freeform lintel and rounded wall elements, frames the view of a mountain peak held sacred by the Native People and integral to their culture and religion.
Stairway
Portal Peace
Seating under the portal provides shade in the summer, protection from the harsh winter elements, and a warm spot in the sun. It’s just right all year round.
Dormitory and Kiva
This photo shows the dormitory anchored by the rounded Kiva element. The Kiva is the spiritual center of the Pueblo and serves as an entry and immersion element as the students arrive at the dormitory. At school, the Kiva is the students symbolic anchor to life at the Pueblo.
Library
The library is reflective of the simplicity of Pueblo life. Natural light, vigas, white walls, and the prominent display of the Buffalo painting are reminders of the student’s life at home.
Student Life Building on the Plaza
Natural vegetation, rock lined traditional drainage swales, and stairway to rooftop dance spaces.
Dormitory Floor Plan
The floor plan shows the small scale, family-style living units for the students.
