Gibbs Elementary School

2007 Tennessee School Board Association “School of the Year” 2nd place award.

Cope Associates, Inc. is pleased to count the Knox County School System among our repeat clients. Knox County Schools commissioned Cope Associates, Inc. to design a new elementary school for the Gibbs Community. Gibbs Elementary School is located on a 69-acre site that fronts on Tazewell Pike across from the campus of Gibbs High School.

Cope Associates, Inc. master-planned the entire site for the elementary school and a future middle school. Particular attention was given to the students’ safety in the bus pick-up and car drop-off areas to separate both functions at both schools.

The elementary school building contains 123,391 square feet of space and can accommodate 1,000 students. The design includes a gymnasium, music room, art center, and full service cafeteria. The design allows the gym, music, and cafeteria to be available for after-hours use, while keeping the remainder of the school secure.

The one-story design and plan configuration was based on centralizing the school’s core functions such as the administrative offices, gym, cafeteria and media center. The plan also provides separate wings for grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. Individual teaching planning areas and student toilet areas are provided for each wing. The wing concept provides opportunities for shorter hallways and natural lighting. Color finishes delineate the wings so the students can easily master their environment.

The structure is constructed of masonry walls with two colors of exterior brick veneer. The roofs are sloped membrane roofing. The entire building will be air-conditioned using a combination of central roof top mounted units for common areas and individual ground-mounted local heat pumps for individual control of each classroom space.

The cafeteria has a fully-equipped kitchen and the student dining area seats approximately 330 students per shift. The gymnasium has a raised stage platform suitable for skits and other school and community uses and can seat up to approximately 500 people. The media center is fully outfitted with shelf storage for printed media and is wired for computer information technology.

The entire school is equipped with state-of-the-art computer technology and communications. The school is designed for security during school hours with access to the interior gained only through the front administrative office.