John Lewis Elementary School combines a sustainable, high-performance building with educational excellence. The focus for the architects at Perkins Eastman was on the well-being of the pupils as well as ease of communication within the school and flexible spatial concepts. The design emphasizes the connection to nature, intended to improve academic performance. The facade was clad with öko skin stripes. The glassfibre reinforced concrete slats in three widths lend the outer shell a vibrant look. The mix of different surfaces creates an exciting multi-way contrast on the building envelope and provides numerous design options. Photos: Ditz Fejer