Project Spotlight: Boley Elementary School, West Monroe, LA

After a devastating fire resulted in a total loss in 2019, Boley Elementary School was rebuilt in 2022. The 45,000 SF school in West Monroe, Louisiana features classrooms, a multipurpose room, an administration area, library, computer lab, and cafeteria.

Large support spaces including a multipurpose room, library, and cafeteria, were strategically designed facing North to allow natural light to flood into the spaces without a sharp glare and high heat gain. Acoustical panels were also used in these areas to absorb sound while incorporating pops of color. Classrooms are filled with colors promoting playfulness and positivity, creating an ideal learning environment for Boley’s students.

The use of light entering the building was important to TBA, as well as the Ouachita Parish School Board, to ensure that natural light entered to create a bright, welcoming, and happier school, while also using the glass to create spaces and add detailed fun elements to the school environment.

Lead designer Hannah Terrell states, “This was our first school to incorporate a safe room into to meet new IBC codes. The room uses several specialty materials and hardware and is designed to protect against natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornados.”

In 2023, Boley was named as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. Additionally, TBA received several awards for their work at Boley including Glass Magazine’s Best Project Team and Build Magazine’s Best Elementary School Rebuild Design.

With the support of the entire community of West Monroe, TBA jumped on board immediately to assess damages, provide insights, and be an invaluable resource to the local School Board. TBA worked diligently to begin the design process and wasted no time in getting local students, administrators, and staff into their home at the new Boley Elementary before the 2023 school year began.

“We began a collaboration with TBA many years ago. They have done several projects with us across the district on our school sites from complete new campuses to minor projects and everything in between. We’ve been very happy with the work they have done for us,” says Todd Guice, Superintendent of Ouachita Parish Schools.