KLA Academy in Miami is part of a network of Reggio Emilia-inspired preschools that have expanded into elementary education. An important concept in Reggio Emilia schools is that the built environment plays a prominent role in a student’s academic and social development. The five-level school fronts a public park and is adjacent to Interstate 95. The ground level provides independent lobbies for each educational cohort, a 200-plus-seat performing arts theater, an internal pickup and drop-off drive, and structured parking for 45 vehicles. The upper levels provide instructional rooms, an indoor play area for toddlers, a common cafeteria and three distinct “piazzas” that serve as the school’s “public spaces.” In addition to the indoor play area on the second floor, the facility has a 30,000-square-foot outdoor play area on the fifth level. This amenity, essential to the Reggio Emilia concept, has multiple surfaces and spaces that accommodate a variety of outdoor activities.
Read more about KLA Academy and view a photo gallery at SchoolDesigns.com.
