Faced with outdated high school facilities, an extensive community engagement planning process identified and assisted in prioritizing needs; ensuring a successful plan. After passing a referendum with more than 80% approval, the project took aim at providing a learning environment fit for a future-focused education.
The reimagined environment creates a perimeter of learning spaces, exposing students to day-lit rooms with clear and easy access to support spaces. The organization of these areas, around a triad of break out spaces and a heart of shared learning spaces, supports the desire of students to collaborate and move. The collaboration hubs create a series of social and learning opportunities in a variety of scales and environments, giving students the spaces they need to succeed.
Environmental graphics reinforce the school brand and motto for students creating an exciting and engaging space for learning.
Imagine a learning space with dim artificial lighting controlled by distant switches, minimal natural illumination, and cramped corridors prone to bottlenecks – these were the challenges of the outdated 1970s high school building.
The media center, dining commons, and collaboration area now serve as the heart of the facility which connects the academic, wellness, and arts into a bright and welcoming supportive space for students and the community.
- 500 Seat Auditorium
- New Secondary Multipurpose Practice Gym
- Secure Main Entry
- Clear, inviting and flexible event entry
- Environmental Branding to engage students
Through the BOLD Facilities Plan, Decatur Public Schools is working to ensure student-focused learning environments with spaces that expand learning beyond traditional expectations to further engage students. To help accomplish this goal, a reimagined, new facility replaced an outdated structure which was located on the highest elevation point in Decatur, Johns Hill.
Faced with outdated and inflexible learning environments, unused spaces, chaotic drop off and pick up, and no central gathering area, doing nothing was not an option for the Jacksonville School District. Not only is the junior high experience a pivotal time in a child’s life, but of all the district facilities, the junior high was positioned to serve every student in the district.
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.