Kemna’Oj School

I was the Project Organizer of a group of five that researched, conceptualized, and proposed an interior design for a 15,000 sq. ft. elementary school in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala. This project began as an independent study at Syracuse University working with the charity From Houses to Homes and extended from Fall 2012 to Summer 2013.

It was important for the design of the elementary school to honor and reflect the students’ culture. We used a geometric diamond motif in the ironwork throughout the school, which was inspired by the pattern of the huipil traditionally worn in the area.

The classrooms were designed for Montessori teaching methods and therefore have multiple configurations possible depending on the activity.

Our design team won a grant to visit the Kemna’Oj school to see the progress of the design, interact with the students and paint murals with them. We hope this school will be a corner stone of the community for many generations.