World of Inquiry Peace Garden

Steele Landscape Architecture designed a temporary courtyard installation at the World of Inquiry School, providing students and staff with enhanced access to nature. Developed in collaboration with students, the project creates three distinct outdoor “rooms” to foster learning, connection, and respite.

The Crew Break Room features a small patio with planter boxes and a repurposed canoe, offering space for one-on-one meetings or quiet reflection. The Gather Room includes painted benches, a living wall, and planter boxes, forming an enclosed area for small group discussions. The Sensory Terrace offers painted seating and plantings designed to engage the senses, whether used as a gathering space or enjoyed in passing.

This courtyard project serves as a prototype for temporary, nature-based installations at Rochester public schools. Its goal is to provide students with opportunities to engage with the natural world and to study how this exposure impacts learning and development outcomes.