Portland’s beloved Lyseth Elementary School, an integral part of the North Deering neighborhood, is preparing for additions and renovations to its original 1958 building. Construction is slated to begin this year. With the goal of expanding without changing the intimate character of the existing school, the design employs purposeful use of color, texture, and transparency— both on the exterior and in other spaces—to evoke a sense of comfort, welcome, and safety to students in pre-K through fifth grade. Materials are playful in their expression, selected not only to create an identity for the school but also to reinforce a thoughtful approach to creating spaces specifically for young children.