To support the continued growth of Albemarle County, VMDO designed a series of additions at Crozet Elementary school to expand capacity from 330 students to 680 students. Originally designed by VMDO in 1990, Crozet Elementary was inspired by both vernacular local buildings and Jeffersonian ideals of public education. A ring of classrooms orbits around a central courtyard and the iconic circular library. In 2020, Crozet Elementary School was the winner of AIA Virginia’s “Test of Time” award, one of only a handful of schools to earn this distinction.

The 2021 renovation is comprised of two separation additions that include new classrooms, offices, faculty workrooms, a movement room, expansions to the cafeteria/kitchen, and various support spaces. The new three-story Learning Wing is nestled into the hillside beside the original building to preserve the existing classrooms’ pastoral views. The height of the addition aligns with the height of the existing building, and the lowest level opens to the adjacent woodland creek.

Additional parking and a more accessible plaza are provided at the main entrance along with a new dedicated bus loop on the north side of the school. Between the new classroom and existing school, designers have created a new landscaped courtyard with an outdoor stage and seating steps. Lastly, an expanded outdoor playground, rain garden and walking track thoughtfully occupy formerly underutilized space between the school and athletic field.