Cary Grove High School

Narratives

Architect Narrative

After completing a new high school, this suburban school district looked to maintain facility equity throughout the district by renovating its existing 1952 high school. With a strong educational vision, the 1952 high school needed facilities that would support the innovation and dynamic learning emphasized by teachers, administration, parents and students. The resulting insightful renovations and media center/computer technology addition reinvigorated the school community with pride in an architecturally significant structure and provides the flexible, agile shared spaces that celebrate the diversity of learning and the strength of an educational community.

Taking the overtaxed 800-student facility and transforming it into a 1200-student collaborative learning center demonstrated the dedication and innovation of architects, engineers and the school community. In a decisive move to address the site master plan, the design team helped the frustrated school district realize the opportunities in a site and building that appeared to offer only limitations to both curriculum and student experience.

From the initial meetings, the design team recognized and addressed the need to excite the community about the potential that was hidden in their existing 1952 facility. During a collaborative planning phase, the architecture team emphasized that the construction project was not just a building addition, but also the opportunity to find a solution that would improve the entire facility. Careful evaluation of curriculum, room assignments, traffic patterns and other utilization factors, made it clear that a “tacked on addition” would only aggravate existing conditions.

Dynamic workshop sessions with teachers, staff, students and parents, allowed the design team to elicit additional information, offer the community examples of how similar districts had addressed comparable issues, and carefully evaluate outside influences (such as technology, workplace design, etc) and their impact on the educational environment. Passive security concepts, the use of natural light, redistributing student load, reducing student travel time and expanding collaboration and informal learning opportunities were just a few of the issues resolved when the team’s whole building approach was used in planning and designing the renovations and addition.

From faculty to students, the newly renovated high school provides areas that facilitate informal learning, promote interaction and create a warm and welcoming environment. The completed school utilizes clerestories and sloping courtyards to capitalize on the power of natural sunlight throughout the school. The new circulation patterns ease the student load throughout the facility thus minimizing student congestion and increasing building safety. The workshop sessions also revealed new opportunities for existing spaces as the original library was transformed into a teacher’s lounge and office space. The open floor plan of the library promoted a team oriented, collaborative and professional environment for faculty. It also placed administration at the center of the school where passive supervision of students increased school safety while connecting students with their teachers.

Dedicated spaces for informal interaction also were planned and designed as part of key services within the school. The technology based media center addition combines student study hall, teacher resource areas, small group interaction spaces and the school technology center in one light-filled space. The proximity of these spaces realizes and supports the idea that students may surf the net while studying history or speak with friends while calculating their math homework. The visual and spatial connection of the spaces promotes student-teacher interaction as they share resources. A passing teacher can assist a small study group or a student at a computer can aid a teacher using new research software at the adjacent computer.

In addition to defining the school’s educational culture on the interior, the media center addition also serves as the distinctive exterior structure that captures the rejuvenated high school’s spirit and dedication to its community’s future. Without disturbing the existing trees or site restrictions, the gentle curve of the addition compliments the facility’s history while emphasizing the renewed focus and spotlight on the education of today and tomorrow’s students.