The Cleft

A new school in Sitka is conceived as a new home.

The project presents a cleft face to the world. This act of splitting responds to the dark history of the school in history, while also revealing hints of new life within the building to the public.

In contrast, the project presents a unified face to the school and its students—one that is whole and represents home. The two parts of the school accommodate programs for students and faculty, while also providing access to the public, eventually converging at the summit. The openness of the layout is informed by Tlingit culture, emphasizing communication and the oral transmission of knowledge.