Eco Bay High School + Fresh Water Institute
A school connecting students to water
An exhibit educating the public on water issues
Memphis, TN | Mud Island
Fall 2019
Project Brief
To redesign Mud Island as the home of a water science high school and research showcase for the Fresh Water Institute.
Site
Mud Island lies in the Mississippi River across from downtown Memphis. In the 70’s, it was developed into an educational theme park about the Mississippi River. However, it has languished, under-visited, since the 80’s.
Approach
The School + Institute can serve as destinations that reanimate the park while educating the public on water issues. The school allows students to learn from the River and conduct research for the Institute. An exhibit presents the Institute’s research to the public and educates them on water ecology and conservation.
Design
The school is designed to help students access and learn from the water. It claims a section of the Harbor as an outdoor laboratory, dubbed the Eco Bay, which is the center of the school’s learning model. In the learning model, students discover through hands-on learning on the ground level and then ascend to the classrooms to reflect.
The site is split into public and private zones by the school. The eastern half is private, while the western half is public. The western edge of the school includes Showcase spaces where the public can observe student work in aquaculture, plumbing, and agro-business.
An exhibit for the Fresh Water Institute lies in the public section. It is flanked by a bioswale garden and the existing Mississippi River Model, which both serve the Institute’s mission of educating the public on water issues.