Project Overview
The Marathon Area Elementary School Outdoor Classroom, located in Marathon City, Wisconsin, serves as a pioneering outdoor learning center designed to integrate nature into the educational experience. Situated under a solar panel canopy, it adjoins the school district’s existing pond and nature path, creating an ideal environment for outdoor educational activities.
Benefits to Students
This innovative outdoor classroom fosters a direct connection between students and nature within a structured learning environment. The installation of solar panels significantly reduces the school district's electrical costs, while accompanying monitoring software enables teachers to demonstrate real-time energy production and savings to students. This hands-on exposure enhances the learning experience and promotes environmental awareness.
Inside the enclosed structure, students have access to areas equipped for studying natural objects with microscopes. Outside, a spacious setting with whiteboards provides opportunities for various outdoor learning experiences. The photovoltaic system’s design maximizes energy efficiency by capturing sunlight from both above and below, ensuring year-round savings through effective energy utilization.
Craftsmanship and Construction
The construction involved skilled carpentry to create a robust, three-season outdoor classroom. The project comprised:
- Installation of a pre-engineered timber structure for the solar canopy
- A concrete foundation with slab and masonry columns
- Solar panel installation, along with specialized electrical connections and commissioning for optimal energy capture and grid distribution
Addressing Challenges
During construction, extensive summer rainfall proved to be a significant challenge. Work crews had to manage standing water in excavations, which delayed landscaping. Additionally, unsuitable soil conditions led to the decision for over-excavation and the incorporation of stone and fabric into the foundation’s footings. To improve accessibility, the existing pond berm was re-sloped, facilitating easier student access to the pond and nature path and adding a stone path to assist with water runoff.
Notably, higher-quality electrical feeds to the outdoor classroom were achieved through value engineering by utilizing existing inner ducts, removing the need for trenching across the parking lot.
Impact on the Community
The successful completion of the outdoor classroom provides a significant benefit to students, encouraging them to engage with nature and facilitating structured learning outside traditional classroom settings. Additionally, the solar panels generate energy for the school, contributing to reduced electrical costs for the district. With the integrated monitoring software, teachers can engage students by demonstrating the amount of energy produced by solar panels and their correlation to savings, thus embedding sustainable practices in their learning experience.
Sustainable Practices & Innovation
The solar panel pergola not only offers a watertight roofing solution but also plays a critical role in educating students about sustainability. This project epitomizes innovative educational practices that prioritize environmental stewardship and outdoor engagement, setting a precedent for future initiatives in sustainable school design.
Location: Marathon City, Wisconsin
Project Size: 2,745 SF
Project Type: New Construction
Architect: Plunkett Raysich Architects
Project Partners
A+ Custom Cabinetry LLC
American Engineering Testing, Inc.
American Fence Company
Breezy Hill Builders, LLC
Claridge Products & Equipment
Couillard Solar Foundation Inc.
Firkus Masonry & Concrete
K&M Electric
Kowalski Masonry
Quality Roofing Inc.
Wisconsin Building Supply
Wisconsin Paint Company Professionals
Woller Stump Grinding, LLC
Zilisch Asphalt LLC
Scherrer Construction received a 2024 Daily Reporter Top Projects Award for this project.
