Tsinaabaas Ha’bitiin (Wagon Trail) Elementary School is a rural
education facility master planned for approximately 125 students
and 25 faculty/staff. The school is located at The Gap, Arizona,
approximately 70 miles north of Flagstaff in a remote area of the
Navajo Nation.
Planning for the new school began more than 30
years ago but land acquisition and funding issues meant the design
phase of the project did not begin until 2002. GHD’s scope of work
included water development, storage and distribution, wastewater
treatment and disposal, site development, and construction
administration.
GHD’s Terry Worcester, formerly of SSPW
Architects, was the architect responsible for making the project a
reality for the tribe and district. Members of The Gap Chapter and
District Cultural Instruction were involved in discussions about
the cultural intent of the school’s design. The color and patterns
were chosen with Navajo symbolism in mind.
Tsinaabaas Ha'bitiin Elementary School was
nationally celebrated by the American Institute of Architects and
won a merit award from the Arizona Masonry Guild.