Planning — Campus Masterplan and
Building Program

Modern and Traditional

The Board of Trustees embarked on an ambitious multi-phased development plan in 1995 after the century-old 83.24 acre-site was purchased from the United Methodist Church by the Navajo Nation. This historic land purchase became the permanent home of Navajo Preparatory School, Inc.

Beginning with nothing more than a vision and strong mission statement, the School has completed the master planning process and is now completing a $40 million construction project in three phases that represent a model 21st century educational campus. Each phase of the project represents a unique, complex and intricate relationship including historic preservation work, Navajo cultural design and sustainable design for energy savings and reduction of operating costs.

Architect: Thompson Pollari Studio, Scottsdale, AZ
Steve Thompson, AIA, & Lynette Pollari, AIA, Principals.

Dedicated on September 19, 2001, the Navajo female hogan is the focal point of the Master Plan. The Hogan serves as the primary focus of the school’s interdisciplinary cultural curriculum.

Phase I — Dormitories Funded by
the Navajo Nation

The four Phase I Dormitories Project are contemporary in design, yet also reflects the old historic buildings on campus. The dormitories are designed to use the power of the sun for effective use of solar energy for heating and passive cooling.

Each of the two-story dormitories are designed to support individual and group study with eight two-student suites on each floor for a total of 34 students per building.

The Phase I Project was a recipient of the School construction News and Design Share Awards in 2001.

Phase II — Historic Preservation and Athletics

The physical essence of Navajo Prep School is embodied in the “historic core” of buildings that represent an evolution from a one-room schoolhouse to a campus environment. The most notable contributing structures are those that surround the old oval: Main building, MacDonald, Morgan and Dodge Halls.
The Phase II Project includes rehabilitations of and new additions to three historic buildings that were used as dormitories built from 1912-1929: MacDonald, Morgan and Dodge Halls. The rehabilitation of these structures has revitalized into an academic core. The rehabilitated buildings are now used as academic houses for English, Math and Social Studies.

The features of the old buildings were traced through historical photographs for reconstruction according to the Secretary ofInterior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. New additions to these buildings are contemporary, but subordinate in character, so that the historic building may assume its natural pre-eminence on site.

Above: The Eagles’ Nest athletic center was dedicated on January 1, 2007 as part of the Phase II project. It quickly became known as the home of the 2009 Girls Basketball State Championship Team. The new athletic center is attached to the old gym. The gym floor is recessed into grade by 1/2 floor level with a continuous circulation path at grade level.

Above: The new football field is located west of the main campus with a nearby softball field that is also completed and ready for play.

Above: Masterplan architectural renderings, and the eagle's nest mural in the athletic center.

Phase III — Student Center

The 25,000 sq. ft. Student Center will open in October 2009 as a LEED Building with Silver Rating. It will house the Library, Cafeteria, health center, classrooms and office spaces.

For more information:
Betty Ojaye, Director, Campus Planning & Development
bojaye@nps.bia.edu
(505) 326-6571, Ext. 148