Initiated by a parent-led grassroots organization, Citizens of the World Charter School grew from a conversation among parents into a newly established charter school in just 18 months. The project is an adaptive reuse of a 1950s modernist office building that required a complete interior and systems renovation. Programmed, designed, and built in only 10 months, the project incorporated salvaged and repurposed materials to meet the budget.

Strategically dispersed “reading pods” and large expanses of writable wall surfaces provide spaces for students, teachers, and parents to interact and explore. A monochromatic color palette creates visually quiet interiors, reinforcing the school’s commitment to calm, focused learning environments and shaping the interior experience.