A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs, or controls the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing passageways. In this case, air is the primary fluid, and essential ‘building material.’ In the form of structural cores and sleeves, [passive, isolated] climates are produced throughout the school. While their principal roles are thermal comfort catalysts, these infrastructural elements are dramatized to become spatially inhabitable, experiential zones of learning. The cores are each designed to operate during hot and cold climates, and distribute energy flow throughout the school. They can be sealed or opened, utilizing louvres, sliding glass doors, and tactile elements to create optimal climates for learning and play in adjacent spaces. The architecture of the school will allow students to experience passive systems and active climatic phenomena. Students will be encouraged to partake in different modes of activity and learning as they travel between cores.
