Brownfields Elementary School
Client
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Location
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Awards
Domain Architecture, CSRS, Inc., Frost-Barber, Inc., ASI Signage Innovations
Services
Interior Design, Furniture, Environmental Graphic Design Intent
CDI Solutions partnered with Domain Architecture, managed by CSRS, to design the new Brownfields Elementary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. With over 65 years of service to the Brownfields community, Brownfields Elementary is celebrated for its deep-rooted connection to the area. This modern facility honors that legacy, providing a state-of-the-art educational environment that supports approximately 550 students from Pre-K through 5th grade.
Spanning 61,000 square feet, the new Brownfields Elementary includes an administrative wing, media center, multi-purpose room, cafeteria, and classrooms for music, art, and dance. Each grade has its own wing featuring a collaborative flex space, supporting adaptable learning and fostering interaction. CDI Solutions approached the design with a focus on inclusivity, flexibility, and engagement, creating a vibrant, cohesive space that encourages creativity and unity.
Color is integral to the interior design, with each grade wing defined by a primary color and a unifying purple accent throughout. Color not only aids in wayfinding but also gives each age group a sense of identity, while bold graphic wallcoverings tie the spaces together, fostering a colorful and welcoming atmosphere.
Shared spaces, including the media center, cafeteria, and main entrances, are designed with a comprehensive color scheme that uses all the school’s primary colors, creating an inviting environment. At the main visitor and bus entrances, a large wall graphic featuring silhouettes of children in motion welcomes students and visitors alike. This bold artwork sets the tone for an engaging atmosphere that embodies the school’s spirit. The multi-purpose room and cafeteria feature an operable partition that can open or close, accommodating large gatherings or daily activities. The multi-purpose room also includes a black-box theater with a stage and courts for basketball and volleyball, making it a central area for both learning and recreation.
Each wing is thoughtfully tailored to meet the needs of its students. In the Pre-K and Kindergarten wing, orange serves as the primary color, bringing warmth and energy. Classroom entries are accented with orange bump-outs and feature tackable walls for displaying student artwork, while the collaborative area, painted in orange, provides age-appropriate seating and mobile whiteboards for flexible teaching. This collaborative space supports up to two full classes, encouraging social interaction and group learning.
In the First and Second Grade wing, green creates a calming atmosphere. The collaborative area includes an exposed structural ceiling painted green and tailored furniture for these ages, along with built-in storage and a sink for hands-on activities, making it functional and adaptable for various teaching styles.
The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade wing features blue, lending a sense of focus and tranquility. The collaborative area here includes bar-height tables, mobile whiteboards, and soft seating, catering to older students’ needs. A large graphic wall highlights the blue color scheme and connects visually with the entire campus, reinforcing the school’s cohesive design.
Classrooms across Brownfields Elementary incorporate flexible, student-centered furniture that is age-appropriate and allows teachers to reconfigure seating as needed. Each classroom has a primary teaching wall in purple with markerboards and tackboards, while the opposite wall features floor-to-ceiling tackable surfaces for displaying instructional materials and student work.
CDI Solutions is proud to have contributed to Brownfields Elementary’s vibrant, thoughtfully designed environment. This modern facility celebrates the school’s heritage while providing a space that empowers students and teachers through inclusivity, adaptability, and engagement. The use of strategic color schemes, flexible furnishings, and collaborative areas supports diverse learning needs and promotes pride and unity within the school. With these dynamic new spaces, Brownfields Elementary is well-positioned to continue its mission of serving the community, inspiring students, teachers, and visitors for years to come.
Our experience with CDI-Solutions has been exceptional. The design concepts developed by CDI have continued to further enhance EBRPSS schools by giving students, faculty, and staff an energetic, pleasing learning and teaching environment.  They're active involvement from start-to-finish was invaluable. CDI was attentive to the client, listened to their vision, and through their expertise, helped to maximize budget constraints to deliver a product that exceeded expectations.. We would definitely hire them again.
Brownfields Elementary School
Judith Anderson, Program Director