Designing Together

The sketches presented for the renovation of four Hartford elementary schools "not only reflect the vision of the architects who will design the schools but of the people who will use them." The designs "grew out of discussions among parents, teachers, principals, neighborhood residents and others," and "months of meetings of community advisory groups to discuss projects that will expand libraries, cafeterias and classrooms." The community design processes used by the architects were received positively from many people, including Mayor Eddie Perez, who said, "This is a way of engaging the school community. ... It has worked so far."