Westerville Central High School

Narratives

Architect Narrative

EXEMPLARY IDEAS THAT ENHANCE LEARNING
There are several design features incorporated into the new high school that enhance the learning environment.

The high school’s design is based around a series of academic “houses”. The design allows students to focus on particular areas of study that include the arts, technology, consumer science, human services and other programs. This method of organization provides smaller learning communities for students and encourages group participation. It also avoids the alienation apparent in mega-sized high schools by allowing the individual student to identify with a much smaller group.

The focal point of the school’s design is Central Avenue. Central Avenue is the main circulation concourse that is designed to mirror a small town business district complete with brick and stone storefronts, lampposts and signage. The space serves as the school’s dining area, the main socialization area for students as well as the lobby for the auditorium and gym. The space enhances the learning environment in several ways. All major areas of the school can be accessed directly from Central Avenue, which allows students to move easily throughout the school and attend classes on time. Central Avenue’s design also encourages socialization, which leads to better student relationships with their peers and teachers.

One of the school’s most unique design features is the 750-seat auditorium. The space features a continental seating arrangement that allows for more seats with better sightlines. Appropriate seating positions are provided for the handicapped. Barrier-free access to the stage from the main level avoids space-consuming ramps and allows equal access for all. The space is used for performances, assemblies and special events.

DESIGN INNOVATIONS
Since the building was designed with the guidance of representative administrative and curricular teams it represents a new paradigm of education in the district. The organization of academic “houses” or academies along with conveniently zoned and located communal spaces evolved from an administrative desire to provide a setting in which all students feel at ease. The realization of this was accomplished by the critical examination of the district’s two existing high schools by representatives from each. Experience was indeed the best teacher since the academic, athletic and arts groups involved were able to weigh in on creating the ideal environment for the new school’s future students. Due to the fact that the architectural team involved has a great depth of experience in designing using a very interactive and representative process, the product easily reflects both the practical logistic organization necessary as well as the creative visual delight desired.

Educator Narrative

The new high school expresses a new direction in the district. It joins two overcrowded existing high schools and has allowed a redistribution of population to the benefit of all high school students.

It was designed to fit on a compact and efficient 70-acre site shared with a new elementary school. The site is nestled within several new neighborhoods north of the city and provides a civic presence previously lacking in this fast growing area. To connect with the surrounding neighborhood, ball fields are available for use by the community at large after hours. The presence of an existing stream crossing the site provides a strong connection with nature.

The building was designed to maximize the use of day lighting through clerestory windows and light-admitting courtyards. These features flood the interior of the new high school with natural light and strengthen the proven beneficial connection with the outdoors. The organization of the building allows clear way finding and navigation via the main circulation area called Central Avenue. Central Avenue provides a pathway to the major areas of the school including classroom wings, gymnasium and auditorium and allows “passive monitoring” of student movement and activity. It is the heart of the new high school.

To reflect a new educational approach desired in the district, each academic area, or house, includes three science labs, classrooms, restrooms and a teacher workroom. All science labs are able to accommodate future curriculum refinement and are fully equipped so that the district can teach any science subject in any lab. There is shared access to art and special education classrooms on the first floor. The second floor features the media center, computer labs and life-skill classrooms as well as the student store.

The new campus has already become a great addition to the community and will proudly serve for years to come.