Location: Winslow, Arizona
Client: Bureau of Indian Education
Completion: 2023
Typology: Educational / Cultural / Southwest Architecture

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Overview

 

Architect of Record: Michael Anderson, LEED AP

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Little Singer Community School stands as a model of how architecture can bridge legacy and future. Conceived and led by architect Michael Anderson, LEED AP, this project transforms a K–8 educational campus into a living embodiment of Navajo cultural identity, ecological intelligence, and learning-centered design.

Since the mid-1970s, the twin red geodesic domes of the original Little Singer campus rose from the grey landscape of Birdsprings, Arizona—symbols of community ingenuity amid limited infrastructure. By the 2000s, these improvised facilities could no longer meet the needs of contemporary education. It was clear: a new school would require more than walls and roofs—it would require vision, cultural fluency, and perseverance.

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Anderson, working in close collaboration with the school board, Navajo leaders, and local families, responded with a bold yet grounded architectural language. The new 32,000-square-foot campus—realized after a 16-year application process—reimagines Indigenous educational space through a composition of intersecting circles, each representing the Navajo cosmological journey through four worlds into the fifth: the present.

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As drivers approach on the nearby highway, the school remains concealed until they crest a hill—then appears suddenly, evoking awe and curiosity. This performative reveal is deliberate, a reflection of Anderson’s approach to storytelling through architecture. Sacred geometry, references to the four sacred mountains, and material selections deeply rooted in Navajo tradition shape a built environment that teaches, honors, and inspires.

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Central to the campus is a high-ceilinged round cultural classroom, designed in the spirit of a modern hogan. It anchors the school as both a pedagogical and ceremonial space. Anderson’s design also targets LEED certification, integrating passive solar strategies, LED lighting with occupancy sensors, and an active 20 kWh photovoltaic array.

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The project was constructed by Keyah Construction Inc., under the leadership of Harry Singer—grandson of Hataalii Yazhi, the original school’s namesake and spiritual founder. This familial connection infuses the project with generational meaning, making the building not just a facility, but a continuation of a promise made decades earlier.

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Constructing a complex facility six miles off the highway presented immense logistical challenges—from transporting structural steel on muddy roads to navigating federal compliance. As project manager Justin Shirley noted, it required “rez style problem-solving”—a testament to the determination of both architect and community.

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Though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed student occupancy, the school stands ready—awaiting the return of its students. As Principal Etta Shirley expressed during the dedication, “We can’t wait for them to come back.”

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The result is a landmark in Southwest educational architecture, and a lasting contribution by Michael Anderson, LEED AP—where design becomes an act of cultural stewardship, environmental ethics, and deep listening.

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Design Approach

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Our process began with listening—to elders, educators, students, and the land itself. The architecture unfolds in a quiet dialogue with the desert: low-slung forms echo horizon lines, while material textures mirror the region’s geological palette.

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We organized the campus in a radial layout, oriented around a central plaza—an intentional echo of traditional Hogan configurations. Classrooms are designed with large south-facing windows and shaded outdoor learning patios, allowing light and shadow to become active participants in the learning environment.

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Materials & Performance

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• Exterior: Locally-sourced CMU block to simulate rammed earth walls and standing-seam metal cladding for durability and regional identity.

• Interior: Natural wood, sound-absorbing ceiling panels, and non-toxic finishes support wellness and acoustic clarity.

• Sustainability: Passive solar orientation, cross-ventilation, and high-performance insulation achieve a 40% energy savings benchmark over baseline code.

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Program

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• 12 flexible classrooms (K–8)

• Cultural storytelling and language room

• Library and digital learning center

• Staff workrooms and administrative core

• Outdoor classrooms and edible native gardens

• Multipurpose event space (also used for ceremonies)

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Community Impact

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Since its completion, the school has become more than a place of learning—it is a site of belonging. Students now attend school with pride, parents feel welcomed, and elders are invited into the curriculum. Architecture becomes a bridge between generations.

 

Recognition

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• Featured in Navajo Times — the article “Little Singer School gets bold new building” details the design of the intersecting circular volumes, passive solar strategy, LEED certification goals, and cultural symbolism at the heart of the project  indianz.com+12navajotimes.com+12navajotimes.com+12.

• Highlighted by Tufts CEEO, the “Smart Motors at Little Singer Community School” program was spotlighted for its integration of robotics and maker pedagogy in a culturally responsive learning environment youtube.com+2sites.tufts.edu+2wiikarma.technology+2.

• Referenced by ASU News — columnist Davina Two Bears (an alumna) authored an essay on how the school’s sustainable, community-centered design fostered Navajo language revitalization en.wikipedia.org+3news.asu.edu+3navajotimes.com+3.