The new high school addition provides flexible spaces with more than one function. Moveable walls, reconfigurable furniture, shared faculty offices, and multi-functional spaces create a 21st-century learning environment in a smaller footprint.
Collaboration and coming together were a major focus in the arrangement of the educational spaces. The learning environments extend out of the classrooms and into the lobby and corridor providing a full complement of learning settings, establishing a student-centered learning environment.
How do we increase space utilization for modern learning when 60% of the existing 1922 high school spaces were underused?
Utilizing a design thinking process, BLDD worked with educators and the community to create conceptual spaces to solve the high school's existing problems. This led to a "hacked" environment, where students and faculty tested prototyped rooms to gather feedback for the most effective, solutions-based designs for the new space.
- 4 Science Rooms
- Expanded Administrative Areas
- 39,000 Square Foot Field House
- Weight Room & Locker Room
- Band Room
- Choral Room
Through renovations and an addition to a 1950s-era building on a tight city footprint, an engaging, innovative and inviting high school, focused on providing modern facilities to support digital learning, academic achievement and fine arts and athletic excellence was developed. While the student population was highly achieving, the existing school did not reflect the student merit.
Faced with outdated high school facilities, an extensive community engagement planning process identified and assisted in prioritizing needs; ensuring a successful plan.
Completed in 2022, the 11,519 s.f. gymnasium replacement consisted of all new flooring and paint work, bleachers, new basketball equipment, dedicated locker rooms, and new bathrooms. Environmental branding was added to the space, featuring the school colors throughout, as well as the school logo on the exterior of the building. Renovations were also done to the lobby, adding in environmental branding and creating a welcoming space for students, staff, and the community.