Albuquerque Public Schools
Completed: 2007
Construction Cost: $1.5 million

Located within the gates of Kirtland Air Force Base, Wherry Elementary serves one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Albuquerque. Having outgrown its 1950s building, the school now has over 60% of its students in portable classroom buildings. As the first step in a long-range master plan, (prepared by Kells + Craig) plans have been completed for a new kindergarten building.

The new free-standing building houses five kindergarten classrooms and two early childhood special education rooms. The building is designed to foster interaction between the children and to develop learning and social skills. Two unique features of the building are the “Explora” room and the large teaching kitchen – both designed specifically to encourage activities that will expand the children’s learning opportunities while bringing them together for group activities.