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Bancroft Elementary School Renovation
![Athletic fields nestle between the historic and modern at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field.jpg 2400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1_DCGen_Bancroft_Fin-Facade-and-Field-1600x1067.jpg 1600w)
Located in the District’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, Bancroft Elementary School is one of the city’s premier dual language programs, instructing all students in English and Spanish. The historic school building was renovated and expanded to accommodate 550 students in pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade. Its urban campus, constructed over 40 years, consists of five historic buildings dating back to the 1920s. Although they are adjoining, the levels do not align properly due to the site’s steep terrain. To overcome this challenge, Ayers Saint Gross, in partnership with Fielding Nair International, simplified access to the school’s learning spaces with a modern addition.
![Axon showing topography and addition at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon.jpg 2250w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Axon-1600x1067.jpg 1600w)
![Stair detail with views to Rock Creek Park at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-1023x1536.jpg 1023w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-1364x2048.jpg 1364w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-93x140.jpg 93w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-53x80.jpg 53w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-266x400.jpg 266w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-400x600.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-533x800.jpg 533w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-799x1200.jpg 799w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Atrium-Looking-to-Woods-1066x1600.jpg 1066w)
Bancroft Elementary School creates a distinct sense of place with its steep sloping terrain, the character and quality of the existing historic buildings, and its relationship to Piney Branch Park. The site topography is used as an asset to create a learning environment embedded in nature. The new building connects to the historic buildings to create learning communities grouped by age.
![Hall detail with bench seating at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench.jpg 2252w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-2048x1364.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-400x266.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Girls-on-Hallway-Bench-1600x1066.jpg 1600w)
![Double-height gymnasium with views of the Calle Mayor at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium.jpg 2211w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-1536x1042.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-2048x1389.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-170x115.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-80x54.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-400x271.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-600x407.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-800x543.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-1200x814.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Gymnasium-1600x1085.jpg 1600w)
A calle mayor, or main street, nestles learning spaces on either side, spanning the old and the new. Key shared spaces including the cafeteria, gymnasium, media center, and outdoor classrooms are treated as destinations along the gently meandering street of an old Spanish town.
![Elementary classroom with exterior views of Rock Creek Park at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web.jpg 2250w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N67_web-1600x1067.jpg 1600w)
![Historic diagram of Mount Pleasant Street facade at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing-150x150.jpg 150w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing-140x140.jpg 140w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing-80x80.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing-400x400.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing-600x600.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing-800x800.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Drawing-1200x1200.jpg 1200w)
The building’s historic character is associated with its Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style and the way the building responds to the topography of the site.
![Historic entrance on Mount Pleasant Street](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway.jpg 2196w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-1536x1049.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-2048x1399.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-170x116.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-80x55.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-400x273.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-600x410.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-800x546.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-1200x820.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Historic-Facade-Detail-Entryway-1600x1093.jpg 1600w)
![Historic buildings restored at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored.jpg 2220w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-1536x1038.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-2048x1384.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-170x115.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-80x54.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-400x270.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-600x405.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-800x541.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-1200x811.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_1930s-Original-Building-Restored-1600x1081.jpg 1600w)
![Stair detail with views to Rock Creek Park](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-93x140.jpg 93w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-53x80.jpg 53w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-267x400.jpg 267w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-400x600.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-533x800.jpg 533w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Directional-Signage-1067x1600.jpg 1067w)
![Corner-mounted directional signage](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-93x140.jpg 93w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-53x80.jpg 53w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-267x400.jpg 267w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-400x600.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-533x800.jpg 533w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Wrapped-Directional-Signage-1067x1600.jpg 1067w)
Vibrant, colorful environmental graphics educate students on the sustainable features of their school building. Signage combines functional and academic objectives that integrate with the building’s architecture while advancing the bilingual curriculum of the institution. Both directional and interpretive sustainability signage is dual–messaged and developmentally appropriate for an elementary school–aged audience.
![Navigational department signage detail at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children.jpg 2250w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Hallway-with-Children-1600x1067.jpg 1600w)
![Sustainability signage educates students about green building features at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage.jpg 2250w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-170x113.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-80x53.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-600x400.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-1600x1067.jpg 1600w)
![Sustainability signage educates students](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl.jpg 1500w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-93x140.jpg 93w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-53x80.jpg 53w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-267x400.jpg 267w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-400x600.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-533x800.jpg 533w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DCGen_Bancroft_Sustainability-Signage-Detail-with-Girl-1067x1600.jpg 1067w)
Research demonstrates daylight and interaction with the outdoors through views and physical access improves the academic performance, health, and well-being of elementary school students. At Bancroft Elementary School, classrooms have ample access to daylight and 87.5% of regularly occupied spaces have access to exterior views. Two outdoor classrooms provide rich context for environment-focused learning and engage students in nature. Outside on the athletic fields, innovative artificial turf surfaces were constructed using an olive core infill in lieu of the typical crumb rubber. The olive core infill in the artificial turf avoids exposure to health hazards typical of crumb rubber systems including toxic metals, carcinogens, latex allergens, and phthalates.
![Athletic fields nestle between the historic and modern at Bancroft Elementary School](https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web.jpg 2000w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-170x128.jpg 170w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-80x60.jpg 80w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-600x450.jpg 600w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://ayerssaintgross.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/21438_00_N75_web-1600x1200.jpg 1600w)
2020
2019
Johnathan Kuhn Architect, Quality Control