New Berlin's Junior/Senior High School provides modern facilities for all grade levels in the district to learn and grow. The additions and renovations reorganize and enhance core educational spaces, creating a clear sense of place for both junior high and senior high school students. While different grade levels have age-appropriate spaces, shared areas are centrally located for easy access.
The project replaced approximately 70,000 s.f. of outdated, poorly functioning spaces, with portions of the 1970’s building and J.B. Kirby Dome remaining. This design stemmed from the basic form of a double-loaded classroom corridor, exploded into a wedge shape to allow natural light and collaboration spaces to fit within.
Multi-purpose and multi-use were important themes in this addition. Large spaces like the commons, band, chorus, new gym, and career suite include flexible equipment allowing its occupants to rearrange the space to their needs for that year, week, or hour within the day.
In addition, student parking is secluded on the eastern side of the building, with a direct path to the main secure entry.
Over 70,000 s.f. of New Berlin's Junior/Senior High School was outdated and had poorly functioning spaces.
The additions and renovations focus on reorganizing the spaces to create a clear sense of place, efficient student access, and smooth traffic flow to shared areas.
- Renovation & Additions
- Collaboration Spaces
- Secured entry
- Re-organization of space
- Equitable Spaces for all grades
Just over 10 years ago, prior to working with BLDD, the district sought a referendum. Community engagement was minimal and the community did not approve the plan. Utilizing BLDD’s planning process with QLEO in 2024, the community engagement was successful and the referendum passed 70/30 overall.
As a component of the April 2019 referendum, Hixson Middle School was to be expanded so that it could receive the school district’s sixth grade students after another district facility transitioned from a single grade and specialty school to a K-5 elementary school. The current middle school, originally opened in 1955, would require both renovations and building additions to accommodate the increase in student population.
Faced with outdated high school facilities, an extensive community engagement planning process identified and assisted in prioritizing needs; ensuring a successful plan.