K-12 Education
Preserving a legacy for future learning
Peralta Elementary School
The new Peralta Elementary School replaces an almost 80-year-old building that was unable to keep up with the growth of the community. The elementary school replacement design creates a contemporary learning environment rooted in Peralta and designed to serve the community for generations to come.
The 58,000sf school serves 350 students in Pre-K through sixth grade, with core spaces sized to support future enrollment of up to 500 students. The team worked closely with Los Lunas Public Schools, the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA), administrators, and teachers to prioritize spaces with the greatest educational value while creating a core program capable of supporting up to 500 students.
The design features technology-rich learning environments, an expanded Innovation Lab, specialized education spaces, outdoor learning areas, and shared community-oriented spaces. Meaningful elements from the former campus, including legacy murals, were preserved and incorporated into the new school, connecting generations of students and families to its history.
The campus also expands Peralta’s ability to serve the broader community. A larger gym provides increased capacity for school activities, events, and community gatherings. The district’s pre-K hub supports young learners and families throughout the Valencia High School feeder area.
Creating safe and comfortable spaces for learning
Safety and student well-being was woven into every aspect of the design. A clearly defined secure entrance, protected playgrounds, controlled access, and separation of bus, visitor, and pedestrian circulation create a safe environment where students can focus on learning.
Performance and sustainability were an equally important part of the design. Our sustainability team performed a Building Performance Analysis to assess daylight access and wind patterns. As a result, natural light reaches every classroom while energy modeling projects a 58% reduction from the AIA 2030 baseline. Wind analysis informed comfortable outdoor learning, gathering, and play areas. Water-conscious strategies respond to New Mexico’s climate. These safety and sustainability features transform the new Peralta Elementary School into a flexible, efficient school built around students, educators, and the future of its community.
Coordinating construction on an active campus
The new Peralta Elementary School replacement was built on the existing seven-acre campus. Replacing an active elementary school on an occupied campus required the design team to work closely with the contractor to solve two problems simultaneously: create an entirely new learning environment and allow education to continue safely throughout construction.
The new school was strategically positioned between existing campus buildings, allowing Peralta Elementary to remain operational while construction proceeded. This required careful phasing of construction, demolition, deliveries, parking, utilities, and student circulation. Only after students and staff could occupy the new facility will the remaining buildings be demolished and final site improvements completed.
The site itself added another layer of complexity. Located within a FEMA-designated flood zone on an extremely flat site with existing drainage limitations, the project required careful grading and stormwater management. The design maintains historical drainage patterns, incorporates low-impact development strategies, and establishes the building safely above the base flood elevation.
The project’s constraints became design opportunities: resulting in a safer, more efficient, and adaptable campus without disrupting the school community it was created to serve.
Peralta Elementary School reflects the community it was designed to serve. The design balances the community’s history with the ability to grow. The new school replaces an aging campus without losing what makes the school special – creating a place where education, family, and community remain closely connected.
Client
Los Lunas Schools
Location
Peralta, New Mexico
Size
50,001-75,000 sf
Disciplines
Beyond the Building
- Community Benefit
- Modern Learning Environments
- Student Success
