Hillsboro-Deering Middle School

Narratives

Architect Narrative

When approaching the design of the new middle school we sought to improve the classroom in order to achieve a healthy, fun and encourage learning environment. This was done with great input from several key groups including design professionals, administrators, committee members, faculty, staff, and students. The main goal was to create a building that would server the diverse space needs and facility needs of the district and be expandable to the next generation. Many of the key areas are listed below.

“Join the Team”

The building is divide up into team area: one team for each of the student grades. The team is comprised of four standard classrooms (English, Social Study, Mathematics, Foreign Language), a Computer Classroom and a Science Classroom. The Science Classroom is adjacent to a full Science Lab shared between the teams. In addition to the team spaces, there is a smaller room at the end of the wings used by teachers with small groups or by specialist needing to give special attention to individual students. Also included in the team area are student and faculty bathrooms and locker space. This locker space has half height lockers in the middle of an extra large corridor, allowing this space to be used by multiple classrooms as a large team project space.

“The Classroom”

All of the classrooms are part of the continuing evolution of the “Advantage Classroom”. The goal is to make a classroom that works with light, ventilation, acoustics, and technology and be balanced with aesthetics.
~ Each of the middle school classrooms is set up to create light and dark zones throughout the room. The light zones use natural daylight as well as direct / indirect fixtures to illuminate the space. Beside the light zones are dark zones perfect for student computing or displaying video projection. The classroom lights are set on sensor; turning off when the room is empty and turning on when switched manually, in hopes that occupants will not “re-turn-on” lights on sunny days.
~ Air quality is another important piece to the classroom. Each room is supplied with 100% fresh air at a low velocity. Return air is sucked out of the space at the high point and sent through an energy recovery system before being discharged out of the building.
~ Hanging sound baffles are an aesthetic, as well as a very functional element in the rooms. In addition the roof deck is an exposed acoustical deck that absorbs sound and reflects light.
~ Each classroom has space for several hard wired computers and a sensor for wireless laptops. In the center of the room, a video projector is hung that the teacher can control from the network.
~ Each of the wings has an accent color that is carried into the classrooms on to the focal wall where the marker board/projection area is located. The exposed Structural steel is painted through out the building as an additional accent. Extra effort was made to keep the mechanical and other systems a natural galvanized finish throughout.

“Classes, Campus, & Community”

One of the requirements from the School district was to create a space that could be used by classes on a day to day basis, as well as the rest of the campus and community on a regular basis. With square footage at a premium, this goal had to be accomplished by using one space. This was a Gym/Caf-atorium. The space has a large thrust stage that can double as additional seating for lunches. The cafeteria area can be used as a small house or part of the large house in performance mode. Also this stage has several windows and doors built into the surrounding wall, making this a true Shakespearean theatre-in-the-round. On a daily basis the gym will be used by the school and town teams and can be open to the cafeteria for large house seating by night. In addition to seating and performance spaces, there is a music room just off stage left. This music room has tiered orchestra seating and has 2 adjacent practice rooms. All of these spaces double as green rooms in performance mode. The last space that is unique to this school is a lighting catwalk that is assessable to students and staff in performance mode.

Educator Narrative

The new middle school has been designed to help improve student achievement in all curricular areas. A science lab is shared by adjoining classrooms that are planned to house middle level programs by grade level teams. Each team has an integrated special education room and a computer lab. In addition to team computer labs a research computer lab that is connected to the main library-media technology center. Every classroom has a ceiling mounted projector and gray boards serving as projection screens. A full size gymnasium opens to a cafeteria with a stage creating a theater in the round performance area capable of seating 1500 for community and school members. A science lab, art room and music classrooms with adjoining prep and practice rooms are located for prime visibility of student work displays, student use, and school production.

Brightly colored acoustical treatment and designs have been scientifically chosen for their effects on performance and to assist staff and students in identifying sections of the school. Similarly, the use of natural light, and an award winning heating and ventilation system called the “Advantage Classroom” further improves conditions for optimal learning. All of this leads from a front corridor that serves as the school’s main street as a place to see learning happen! To further enhance student achievement and safety the new middle school also feature a state of the art security system, complete with video surveillance, and a security badge system with “card swipe” access control.

The middle school has been designed to deal with the present needs of the school district and expansion to take us into the next generation and beyond.