The American Academy of Innovation was designed for a school that doesn’t operate like most schools. AAI’s focus on project-based learning, career and technical education, and partnerships with international universities demanded a facility that reflected those ambitions from the outside in.
The 33,000 SF Daybreak campus serves grades 6-12. At its center, a two-story lobby connects classrooms and activity areas while encouraging the kind of spontaneous interaction that project-based learning depends on. Exterior masonry, metal panels, stucco, and vibrant color accents give the building a distinct identity within the Daybreak community, and outdoor gathering areas and a soccer field extend the school’s collaborative culture beyond the classroom walls.
Babcock Design worked closely with the school board, the developer, and Rio Tinto to balance educational function with community design standards, producing a building that feels like a landmark because it was designed to be one.
