Led by a quote from legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright — "Buildings, too, are children of earth and sun" — the interior design team worked to give schools unique elements and themes.

"We used the four elements of nature as building blocks — earth, air, fire and water," said Cindy Kilpatrick Dingeldein, Steed Hammond Paul project manager for the interior design.

Designers worked with a team comprised of district staff, administrators and community members.

"We started out with 12 different palettes and the design team narrowed it down to the final proposals," Kilpatrick-Dingeldein said.

Kilpatrick and Carrie Malatesta, senior interior designer, last month presented district board members and administrators with proposed interior schematic designs for the new schools.

"Everyone who has looked at the interior designs has really been impressed and I think the public is going to be also," said Dr. Glenn Stitsinger, board vice president. "I especially like the designs of the media centers, which are going to be the highlight and most impressive part of these buildings."

Each school will be constructed from the same kit of materials but with different color schemes and elements.

"Each will be unique with a common thread," Malatesta told board members. "And each media center has unique features in the primary story area."

Proposed color palettes for each school are:

• Bridgeport: Water — warm tones, circular flowing design;

• Fairwood: Air (space) — Lime/blue/black, contemporary;

• Linden: Fire — Bright palette, soaring entry, triangular patterns;

• Ridgeway: Earth — earthtone colors, nature, Craftsman style.

Buildings will be about three quarters the size of the 121,000-square-foot Hamilton Freshman School and are scheduled to open for the 2009-10 school year.