Through its BOLD Facilities Plan, Decatur Public Schools worked to create 21st-century learning environments. Johns Hill Magnet School, a K-8 facility, features a 750-seat auditorium, 672-seat gym, Art Alley, Learning Stair, and STEAM Suite for grades 6-8. The school's focus on arts integration and English-Language learner curricula further enhances the student experience.
Photos: O'Shea Builders
The team had to create spaces that would spark K-8 students' creativity, despite a tight budget and growing enrollment.
A cutting-edge, arts-focused facility on our existing site, designed to inspire generations of students to discover, nurture, and share their talents and cultural expression with the world.
- K-8 school
- 750 seat auditorium
- 672 seat gymnasium
- Art alley
- Learning stair
- STEAM suite for 6-8
Student-artists display their masterpieces in the open, accessible gallery for the community, bringing arts directly to the revitalized neighborhood. The alley also serves as an innovative and secure second-floor entry point for staff and the community, helping the flow of traffic for multiple events happening simultaneously.
Following a successful year-long master planning process, designed to address concerns of aging infrastructure and facility inequities, Lanphier High School was identified as a top priority for revitalization among the district's three high schools.
Unsure of whether to remodel their historic middle school, build new on the existing site near their current high school, or build new on a different site, the Maroa-Forsyth School District reached out to get community input via BLDD's community engagement process.
Despite facing significant obstacles, including a flood-prone location and limitations on modifying existing structures, the district persevered, eventually resulting in a groundbreaking new building addition that redefined the school’s entrance and functionality.