Nye County Opens New Elementary School

By Scott Blair

Located in the southern tip of rural Nye County, Pahrump’s newest elementary school will house 700 students.

Image courtesy Carpenter Sellers Architects

In another corner of Nevada, Floyd Elementary School was recently completed this August. This $15.1 million project provides space for 700 students on a 12-acre site in Pahrump, a fast-growing rural community in the southern tip of Nye County.

The Nye County School District fast-tracked the 55,417-sq-ft facility in order to open for the 2008-2009 school year.

The design was inspired by the colors of the surrounding desert and maximizes flexibility and energy effeciency. “The orientation of the building was optimized to provide daylight within the classrooms and administrative spaces while minimizing glare and heat gain,”says W. Rick Sellers, AIA, NCARB, principal with Carpenter Sellers Architects. “We worked with a diverse group of administrators, teachers and community members as well as a design committee to design the school.”

The school began construction in October 2007 with B&H Construction as the locally based general contractor.

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The single-story facility incorporates wings to provide private and secure courtyard spaces for the children. Child-friendly classrooms, computer labs, media center and a music room feature vibrant colors and ample daylighting to enhance the educational experience. The building also features administrative spaces and a nurse’s station.

A multipurpose space will act as a cafeteria during the day, but can operate as a community room after hours with access controlled through a separate entrance.

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