Imagine a place where learning is sparked by imagination, where kids can pursue their dreams and follow their passion – all in their own backyard. Welcome to Poudre School District’s Mobile Academic Classroom, affectionately known as MAC.
This classroom on wheels packs a lot of punch in a small space and both financial and in-kind donations brought the unique learning experience to life. The project’s program was to design a mobile classroom to support elementary students during the summer months, enabling continued continue learning and preventing loss of knowledge, known by teachers as the, “summer slide.”
LOCATION:
Fort Collins, CO
CLIENT:
Poudre School District
SCOPE:
240 SF Bus Conversion
COST:
$25,000 (plus donations)
COMPLETED:
2018
MAC is designed to function as a classroom and place for students to continue learning while exploring passions. Features include custom, retractable, built-in panels painted with a whiteboard dry erase coating that can serve as both desks and writable surfaces. Built-in seating and tables housed over the wheel wells cater to smaller children, and active seating and furniture solutions are provided for kids of all ages. A retractable smart TV, laptops for each student, and a custom cabinet to secure the laptops when not in use allow teachers to utilize technology for instructional purposes. The color palette creates a fun and whimsical environment. Interior flooring incorporates neutral greys and pops of bright color. Carpet tiles mimic tire treads and street paint.
But the learning doesn’t end at the door. An exterior awning shades outdoor activities that can occur wherever MAC is parked, truly bringing the classroom right to students’ neighborhoods. A local marketing company created a comprehensive exterior vinyl wrap for the bus to capture the mission and vision for MAC as well as showcase the project’s brand.
