Salamanca City Central School District Prospect Elementary Addition

Prospect Elementary: Where Culture and Creativity Inspire Learning

Located within a tight site footprint, the Prospect Elementary school needed additional space for key school programs. The Salamanca City Central School District collaborated with LaBella to design an addition that would meet the growing needs of Prospect Elementary.

The addition houses critical offices and workspaces for student support, along with a STEAM classroom, a Seneca Nation History classroom, and a purposeful play space. These programs serve the district’s unique population of kindergarten through second-grade students and staff, including a large population of Indigenous people.

The Seneca Nation History Classroom serves as a small museum of sorts. Indigenous artifacts, artworks, and books are kept and shared with the school to teach about the importance and impact of native culture. A playful take on the Nation’s clans is displayed in a custom wallcovering band around the perimeter of the room.

Ample tackable and writable surfaces allow students and teachers to customize their space.

Purposeful Play Blends Fun and Learning

The Purposeful Play space offers an environment where students can use play and experimentation in an intentional way to support their unique developmental needs. The space incorporates elements that replicate the outdoors, fostering a sense of wonder and exploration within the building. The nested modular furniture and interactive play elements, like the Lego wall, allow students the freedom to create their own learning environment. Additional interactive elements include a magnetic and writable wall at child height for visual exploration and a winding “creek” floor pattern with stones to create a kinetic, sensory path.

Learn More About Purposeful Play

An Award-Winning Project

Prospect Elementary Addition Wins 2025 IIDA BUFFALO Interior Design Award

In May 2025, LaBella and Salamanca City Central School District were honored to receive a 2025 IIDA NY Buffalo City Center Interior Design Award in the K-12 Education category for the Prospect Elementary Addition project. This award highlights projects that exhibit design excellence, creativity, and exemplary skill.