• GDS Washington DC private school natural wood playground towers bridge climbing GDS Washington DC private school natural wood playground towers bridge climbing GDS Washington DC private school natural wood playground towers bridge climbing
  • GDS private school adventure senior towers natural wood playground tube slide robinia climber GDS private school adventure senior towers natural wood playground tube slide robinia climber GDS private school adventure senior towers natural wood playground tube slide robinia climber
  • GDS private school junior area grasshopper sculpture climber GDS private school junior area grasshopper sculpture climber GDS private school junior area grasshopper sculpture climber
  • Georgetown Washington private school natural playground abstract wood sculpture Georgetown Washington private school natural playground abstract wood sculpture Georgetown Washington private school natural playground abstract wood sculpture
  • Georgetown Day Private School interior nets climbing natural playground Georgetown Day Private School interior nets climbing natural playground Georgetown Day Private School interior nets climbing natural playground
  • GDS private school natural playground towers wobble boards rocking springs GDS private school natural playground towers wobble boards rocking springs GDS private school natural playground towers wobble boards rocking springs
  • Georgetown Day private school junior tower playground branches natural wood Georgetown Day private school junior tower playground branches natural wood Georgetown Day private school junior tower playground branches natural wood
  • GDS private school towers natural playground wood ropes net climbing GDS private school towers natural playground wood ropes net climbing GDS private school towers natural playground wood ropes net climbing
  • GDS private school natural playground adventure towers tube slide GDS private school natural playground adventure towers tube slide GDS private school natural playground adventure towers tube slide
  • Private School Washington DC natural playground robinia log climber rubber sling towers Private School Washington DC natural playground robinia log climber rubber sling towers Private School Washington DC natural playground robinia log climber rubber sling towers
  • Georgetown Day School private Washington natural wood playground Georgetown Day School private Washington natural wood playground Georgetown Day School private Washington natural wood playground
  • GDS private school robinia log climber obstacle course trapeze rings GDS private school robinia log climber obstacle course trapeze rings GDS private school robinia log climber obstacle course trapeze rings
  • Georgetown private school Washington DC slides wobble boards towers Georgetown private school Washington DC slides wobble boards towers Georgetown private school Washington DC slides wobble boards towers
  • Georgetown Day School natural wood playground junior treehouse tower slide robinia log climber Georgetown Day School natural wood playground junior treehouse tower slide robinia log climber Georgetown Day School natural wood playground junior treehouse tower slide robinia log climber
  • Georgetown Day School Washington DC monkey bars towers nets climbing hanging Georgetown Day School Washington DC monkey bars towers nets climbing hanging Georgetown Day School Washington DC monkey bars towers nets climbing hanging
  • GDS hoppers private school Washington DC interior rope net play climbing GDS hoppers private school Washington DC interior rope net play climbing GDS hoppers private school Washington DC interior rope net play climbing
  • Georgetown Day School adventure natural wood towers tube slide windows view Georgetown Day School adventure natural wood towers tube slide windows view Georgetown Day School adventure natural wood towers tube slide windows view
  • GDS private school rock outcrop sculpture high challenge net climbing GDS private school rock outcrop sculpture high challenge net climbing GDS private school rock outcrop sculpture high challenge net climbing
  • Georgetown Day School private natural playground robinia log climbing rock outcrop sculpture Georgetown Day School private natural playground robinia log climbing rock outcrop sculpture Georgetown Day School private natural playground robinia log climbing rock outcrop sculpture
  • Georgetown Day School rope bridge senior tower climbing Georgetown Day School rope bridge senior tower climbing Georgetown Day School rope bridge senior tower climbing
  • Georgetown Day School grasshopper sculpture notched logs climbing tunnel Georgetown Day School grasshopper sculpture notched logs climbing tunnel Georgetown Day School grasshopper sculpture notched logs climbing tunnel
  • GDS private school Washington grasshopper sculpture tunnel natural wood playground GDS private school Washington grasshopper sculpture tunnel natural wood playground GDS private school Washington grasshopper sculpture tunnel natural wood playground
  • GDS Washington DC private school adventure tower net floor playground GDS Washington DC private school adventure tower net floor playground GDS Washington DC private school adventure tower net floor playground

Georgetown Day School Playground

Client: Georgetown Day School
Collaboration: Lemon Brooke
Location: Washington, DC
Completion Date: 2020

The narrative of the Georgetown Day School (GDS) playground design takes its cue from the school mascot, the grasshopper and has a strong focus on the concept of biophilia: the love of nature.  Designed in collaboration with Lemon Brooke, and GDS staff and students, the playground for both lower and middle school students is spread over four complex and distinct areas.

From the perspective of a tiny grasshopper, the forest floor is a richly complex micro-world that invites exploration and discovery. In the mid-Atlantic coastal forest, the mighty trunks of the oaks, pines, and catalpas stretch high into the air. As a result, these giants offer magnificent views to the critters and creatures that call the forest home. Similarly, a rock outcrop overlooks a bramble of logs and twigs on a grassy hillside. Deeper into the woodland, intersecting tree branches reach high into the sky. Meanwhile, a grasshopper nestled among blades of grass observes the excitement around it.

The playground at GDS fosters an environment of wonderment, imagination, and creativity as well as a deep-rooted connection to nature. Most importantly, the complexity of the play pieces in this design reinforce the capacities that the school strives to teach every student. Consequently, the unpredictability and challenge presented in the playground engage cognitive function that provide opportunities for creative thinking and risk assessment. Accordingly, every play piece at GDS includes these challenges to give students the freedom to make choices during play. They can push their boundaries, take risks, learn from failure, and build their confidence – all valuable lessons that they will carry into adulthood.

CONCEPT SKETCHES

 

ROCK OUTCROP AT ASLA 2019

The rock outcrop playground sculpture for GDS was featured at the Earthscape EXPO booth at ASLA 2019 in San Diego.