Slate School is an independent elementary school in North Haven, Connecticut situated on a 25-acre parcel featuring forest, open meadow lands, and organic gardens. This backdrop celebrates nature as a means to observe and play.

The school’s small, single-story buildings minimize site disturbance by occupying the same footprint as the large 1980s-era single-family home complex. An administrative and three active classroom buildings enclose a formal courtyard, hosting outdoor learning, study, and organized play activities. Beyond the courtyard, two more classrooms face a series of organic flower gardens, rain gardens, and meadows that create opportunities for imaginative learning and spontaneous play.

All building materials are vetted for durability and non-toxicity. High-efficiency building envelopes and adaptive mechanical systems keep building operations and maintenance costs to a minimum while enhancing occupant comfort and health. Building-design strategies such as solar orientation, natural ventilation, daylighting, and circadian lighting benefit and enhance the learning potential for the students.