Educators often see the same trends circle back around every few years or decades. It’s now taken about 80 years for the push for community schools to come back into vogue, but community planners and leaders are realizing that school facilities can play host to many types of activities, for many ages.

Each year, the American Architectural Foundation and the Knowledgeworks Foundation honor a school and community that have built an exemplary example with its Richard Riley Award, named for the former U.S. Secretary of Education. Riley’s pet project since leaving office in 2000 has been facilitating community partnerships and advocating for better school buildings.

This year’s winner is Rosa Parks School at New Columbia Community Campus in Portland, Ore. The campus includes a new K-6 school, Boys and Girls Club, and a community center that offers a variety of classes and programs for non-school-aged residents.

Financing of the project also used a partnership: The campus was built on land donated by the Housing Authority of Portland and construction was paid for with market tax credits, which give investors tax breaks in exchange for a low-income community development project.

And perhaps most impressive, the facility has received a Gold LEED certification for its sustainable design and environmental practices—something that will give back to the community for generations.

For more information about community schools and an update of how schools in New Orleans are being rebuilt as the centerpieces of their neighborhoods, there’s a terrific article in October’s ASBJ written by architect Steven Binger and Martin Blank and Amy Berg from the Coalition for Community Schools. For more information about this school or the award, check out AAF’s website at www.archfoundation.org.

Joetta Sack-Min, Associate Editor