Wunderland at Deep Wood Elementary

Round Rock ISD

This neighborhood elementary school has a campus-wide focus on literacy and serves three district special education programs. Like its neighborhood, it has some age on it, but innovative thinking activated a hidden treasure. By rehabilitating a dark, dank concrete area with a district grant, they created an inclusive, activity-based, open-air learning environment. Equipment designed for multisensory learning enhances social, emotional, and academic discovery for children of all ages and abilities.

  • Client Round Rock ISD
  • Category Prek-12
  • Awards TASA/TASB Design Awards: Caudill Class Finalist, Value, Innovation, Community, Planning, School Transformation
  • Project Team
    Jessica MolterJessica Molter
``The Dungeon``
Gray, cold, unorganized, and underutilized...

All descriptions of the space formerly known as “The Dungeon.” On her first campus walk-through, the new principal was challenged to find a useful and innovative use for the space.

When opened for the children to see the transformation, the once gloomy dungeon was transformed through color, shape, texture, and equipment to inspire active, experiential learning, which supports state, district, and campus goals.

Challenge accepted

The district head of innovation asked, “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT!?” The new principal began to dream, then enlisted faculty to help her dream bigger.

A drawing from a teacher was the foundational concept for what would become Wunderland. The design team took that drawing and the teachers’ wish list and brought the ideas to life.

Screen Shot 2023-02-06 at 4.52.37 PM
Adventures in Wunderland

Non-specific, non-directed, imaginative play encourages team-work, decision-making, conflict resolution, and role-playing. All are necessary skills for open-ended educational and social development.

Activity spaces were designed for gross and fine motor skill development that complements and supplements curriculum. Throughout the design process, each element had to meet blended parameters for outdoor and soft-play codes and all vertical and horizontal planes were evaluated for creative possibilities and opportunities for the space to continuously evolve.

For older campuses, space is a premium. So, when space lacks purpose, it is up to the designer to find opportunities for innovation.

We used what existed and made it purposeful.

Finding purpose for wasted space not only added value to the physical structure but immeasurable worth to the spirit of the campus. Wunderland built community and created ownership through hard work and volunteerism.

School pride was an intended result by giving faculty and students something unique. In the process, we reunited a neighborhood. We asked students from a high school art club, many of whom attended the school, to graffiti the walls.

We embraced the underground aesthetic that, when combined with the chain-link fencing, could create an edgy, urban feel.

The colorful graffiti-themed space, by intention, supports all content areas— reading, language arts, and physical education. This space is intentionally unstructured to allow children the opportunity to explore and just be kids.

Designs That Elevate Human Experience
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