Cordogan, Clark & Associates and Architecture for Education (A4E) teamed as creative collaborators with the West Aurora School District for their new Greenman Elementary School. Greenman is a new replacement school for an existing 107-year old building that could no longer support growing enrollments, new technological advances, and today's teaching curriculums. The design team overcame the tight urban site in more than doubling the size of the old school, allowing it to remain an anchor in the neighborhood. "Even though we're twice as big, we wanted to maintain that small-community environment," said Principal Erin Slater.

The "school within a school" design concept of Greenman Elementary embraces personalized instruction and team teaching. The classrooms are organized into clusters. These form small learning communities of four classrooms, two technology/resource centers, and a flexible learning corridor. Each cluster can accommodate individual rooms or transform into a larger space for team teaching. Within each classroom there are bay windows with seating, shared restrooms and "learning walls;" custom, flexible, and adaptable millwork that can conform to each teacher and students' needs. Greenman Elementary was selected as the Grand Prize Winner of the Exhibition of School Architecture award by the National School Board Association." The jury found this project exemplary on all levels. The architecture enriches the learning environment, enhances the education program, and complements, without mimicry, the urban/residential fabric of the neighborhood. It also provides a strong connection to the community through several outreach partnerships." In addition to this award, Greenman Elementary School has received the Illinois Association of School Boards Award of Distinction for Excellence in the Design of Educational Environments, the Impact on Learning Effective Classroom Design Award, the Learning By Design National Grand Prize, and many more.

2004 Architectural Portfolio Citation
2005 Grand Prize from Learning By Design
2005 Merit Award from DesignShare
2005 Impact on Learning Award from School Planning and Management
2005 National Search for Excellence Finalist for Knowledge Works Foundation
2005 AIAIC Design Merit Award
2005 Education Design Showcase Honorable Mention by School Planning & Management
2006 NSBA Exhibition of School Architecture Grand Prize
2006 IASB Award of Distinction.