Deep in the Congo Basin jungle, the Ilima Primary School serves as a community center for the safe and mutually-beneficial integration with local wildlife. Built for the African Wildlife Foundation as part of a strategy of environmental preservation through community empowerment, the school was constructed exclusively of materials harvested and fabricated on and around the site; local artisans and MASS architects experimented with earth mixes and wood to develop walls, trusses, shingles and other details. The school’s steep roof and half-height walls take their cue from regional climate-aware design practices; the grounds feature handmade play equipment as well as integrated agriculture. The Ilima Primary School, developed in tandem with the community it serves, sets a new standard for rural sustainability. With its innovative design, it has become a beacon school, attracting the region’s best teachers and offering students opportunities beyond subsistence farming.