In this thesis, an old industrial building in Örebro, Sweden, is reborn as the public school Lokverkstans Lower Elementary School. What once stood as a railcar workshop, with steadfast brick walls and towering concrete pillars filling up the vast space inside, now blossoms into a nurturing educational haven where history and innovation intertwine.

A critical aspect of the design strategy was to introduce light and clear sightlines throughout the building. Atriums were created to serve as hidden courtyards, inviting natural light deep into the interior spaces and a connection to the outdoors. Large windows were reconfigured to maintain openness and foster engagement, creating a seamless flow of light from the exterior to the heart of the building.

Interviews with teachers and staff heavily influenced the program, emphasizing the need for numerous group rooms. Central to the design is the philosophy that young children thrive in environments where they feel a sense of belonging, so the school is organized into homerooms. With colour-coding and an emphasis on the actual users of the building—the children—the architecture enhances interaction and activity in a careful and humble way.

Original architectural elements, such as exposed brick and repurposed materials from demolished parts of the building, were retained to honor the industrial heritage while creating a modern educational environment. By preserving and reprogramming the railcar workshop, this project demonstrates the potential of adaptive reuse in creating functional, sustainable, and culturally significant educational spaces.