Youth’s Benefit Elementary School
A solution to overcrowding
To resolve severe overcrowding and traffic congestion across a fragmented campus, which previously split over 1,000 students across three separate buildings, Harford County Public Schools partnered with our team to design a unified replacement school in Fallston, Maryland.
Our team developed a strategic phasing plan that allowed a new two-story, LEED Silver-certified facility to rise in the space between the existing structures while classes remained fully operational.
Once the new building was complete, crews demolished the original primary and intermediate facilities to clear space for updated campus infrastructure.
Flexible interiors + outdoor learning
The school’s floor plan balances core community spaces with age-appropriate learning hubs to create an intuitive environment for young students:
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Lower level core: The main floor houses administration and health suites, early childhood classrooms (pre-K through second grade), specialized art and music spaces, student services, and a gymnasium with a stage and cafeteria.
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Upper level wing: An upper U-shaped wing accommodates grades 3 to 5, additional special education suites, and flexible classrooms designed for adaptable instruction.
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Courtyard amphitheater: Nestled inside the building’s footprint, a large outdoor amphitheater connects both floor levels, offering dedicated space for outdoor learning and large group gatherings.
Streamlined traffic + community access
Demolishing the original facilities allowed for a complete overhaul of site logistics, separating bus and parent traffic while improving access for the broader community:
- Central bus loop: A dedicated bus drop-off sits directly at the main entry, completely separated from personal vehicles to maximize student safety.
- Expanded parent loop: Parent drop-off loops, along with dedicated visitor and staff parking, occupy the footprint of the former intermediate building.
- Shared community parking: A new upper parking lot serves school staff by day and transitions to evening parking for the adjacent Parks & Recreation baseball fields, complete with an isolated service drive.