Our Spaces

Educational Space

In the summer of 2013, Ludlow-Taylor’s interior was renovated to create modernized, high-performance educational spaces. The Quinn Evans Architects’ design team worked carefully with faculty and staff to develop a design which supports the school’s  curriculum and the needs of specialized education students.

​The design employs a vibrant graphics and wayfinding program to create learning neighborhoods within the school. Strong way finding graphics reinforce a sense of identity for the school while also creating smaller learning neighborhoods. This is particularly important for our youngest learners. School is one of the first environments, outside of the home, in which they learn to explore and navigate the world around them and develop a sense of identity and community outside of the family structure.

Ludlow-Taylor has 26 classrooms, which feature flexible furnishing to allow teachers to customize their space and Smart Board technology. In addition, Ludlow-Taylor has dedicated space for each of its specials classes, including a library, science lab, music room with instruments, art room with kiln, and a multi-purpose room.

Solar Installation

Ludlow-Taylor has joined non-profit New Partners Community Solar to support Solar for All, a program of the Department of Energy and Environment. Through this partnership, 234 kW of solar panels are placed on the school’s roof as well as on a new playground canopy under which students can play. All of the energy generated by the panels will go directly to assisting low-income households across the District at no cost.

New Partners will also assist in developing a classroom curriculum to teach children and members of the community about sustainability, renewable energy, and the environmental and health benefits of solar—using Ludlow-Taylor’s own solar installation as an object-based model for learning.

Garden Space

DC Department of Environment’s RiverSmart School program partially transformed Ludlow-Taylor’s outdoor space in the summer of 2016. A portion of the existing playground and concrete were removed and replaced with a new schoolyard green space that features the largest FoodPrints school garden in DC, outdoor classroom space, rain gardens, and shade trees.

These features allow rainwater to stay on-site and soak into the ground. Natural processes help remove pollutants that harm the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. They also provide teachers with an outdoor classroom to use for hands-on learning opportunities in many areas of study, including ecology, gardening, and water conservation.

Play Space

​In the summer of 2017, a new playground and basketball court were constructed to complete the school yard transformation. The play space was designed with the idea that play can support cognitive and linguistic development, and the development of social, motor, and executive function skills. It continues the garden theme by featuring colorful flowers and insects.

As students climb, slide, swing, spin, and hide, they engage in collaborative play and team work, learn about cause-and-effect, and develop better depth perception and balance. The basketball courts, with both lowered and standard size hoops, plus the existing baseball field provide additional space for court and field sports during recess and physical education class.

HOURS AND RULES:

Ludlow-Taylor’s play space is reserved exclusively for students, Monday-Friday from 8:00 am–6:00 pm.

The public is welcome to use our play space on weekday evenings from 6:00–8:00 pm and weekends from 8:00 am–8:00 pm. We ask that all visitors pick up and remove any trash that they bring to the playground. Dogs are NOT permitted on the school’s playground and baseball field at any time.