Backman Elementary School

Salt Lake City, Utah
Year Completed: 2002
Square Footage: 72,000
Client: Salt Lake City School District

Built next to the Jordan River and close to the Wasatch Mountains, NJRA Architects designed Backman Elementary to fully enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. The large entry curtain wall frames the Wasatch Mountains and allows abundant daylight to enter the school. Natural light also permeates the school through skylights and large windows. The adjacent river is depicted in the undulating ceiling tiles.

One challenging aspect of this project was the requirement that the existing school remain operational during the construction of the new school. NJRA Architects was able to locate the new structure so we could maintain recognition of the building from the street and enhance the location by reflecting the curve of the street. Careful attention to detail and security issues in the new school creates a flexible environment that transforms the building from a place of learning to a community center.

Back