BUILDS & DESIGN
HeartWorks
Location: Bayboro, NC
Project Type: Community Program - New Construction
Role: Design Team & Project Manager
Designed in the office of Tina Govan Architect
Heartworks is a nonprofit after-school and summer program dedicated to providing at-risk youth in Bayboro, NC, with a safe, nurturing space to learn, play, and grow. Our design reimagined the Heartworks campus as a place of comfort, security, and joy. At its core is an outdoor courtyard, embraced by a wraparound porch and two new classroom buildings that open onto this central green space.
We designed the roof with an asymmetrical truss that cantilevers out to create a porch. The exposed trusses offer a learning opportunity for the children to understand structural elements of a building.
The cantilevered porch trusses with clear polycarbonate roofing allow soft, natural light to filter through the porch into the classrooms, reducing the need for artificial lighting and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Our concept was to create a grassy courtyard defined by two new classroom buildings, where each classroom was connected by an outdoor wrap around porch, also connecting the existing classroom building which is now used for art, music, meals and other communal activities.
Model making and renderings are a key design tools to help develop and express our vision to the clients.
Outside, the playground was a vast, hot asphalt parking lot left over from the car dealership days. With no shade or greenery, children were left scouring for any small piece of nature or an interesting spot to play. A key priority of our design was to break up the asphalt and introduce more green spaces—places where kids could run, explore, and connect with their environment.
When HeartWorks approached us their existing classrooms—cramped inside an old car lot building, divided by plywood partition walls—were noisy, chaotic, and not conducive to focused learning or emotional well-being. The former classroom building was repurposed into a cafeteria, central gathering space, and art room, complete with a stage where children now perform music and participate in group activities.
Visiting Heartworks after completion was a profound experience. Seeing children playing kickball in the courtyard, gathering on the porch, and thriving in their new, peaceful classrooms reaffirmed the power of thoughtful design. By transforming their environment from chaotic to calm, we helped create a space where kids can feel safe, supported, and free to be themselves.