The Shared Space has a single entry off Chamberlain Avenue where the road elevation is equivalent to one floor lower. Parking is available from this side of the site and is arranged into one main parking lot between the support space and the auditorium. Faculty and staff parking are available throughout the site in some of the courtyards on the lower level.

The open space matrix is formulated to allow, amongst other things, vehicular access across the site from Chamberlain to Dorothy Avenues for emergency vehicles.

The plan/section strategy was developed on the principle of a sponge where a solid form is filled with individual outside spaces. A typical plaid layout was adopted to integrate the program with this spatial model. The plaid took on layers that were derived from the site’s elevations so that the plaid became 3 dimensional. The differential scale of the two types of space (the Academies and the Shared Space) permitted the plaid strategy to function so that light and air can penetrate through the academies to the courtyards of the shared space below, while allowing 50% of the open space at the academies level to be used as outside space.

When this idealized spatial model is applied to the site, the directionality of the circulation is fixed. Since the upper floor, the Academies, is entered from Convery Boulevard, the circulation runs North/South. On the Shared space floor the circulation is East/West.

The School Within a School, which doubles as community space, is located along Chamberlain Avenue. A less obvious boundary to the site is the State Highway Storm Easement. This edge establishes a limit to contain the program/open space matrix. The remainder of the site, approximately 30% is used for sporting activities and connected directly to the community via Chamberlain Avenue.

The storm easement causes a pinching of the geometric matrix creating a warping of the grid. This suggests that this grid formula could be fitted to other geometric configurations and sites.
The method used for program distribution was to use gross areas multiplied by the open space that the 3D plaid system dictated. So the shared space is multiplied by 200% and the academies are multiplied by 175%. The open spaces are used primarily for outside learning spaces, gardens, physical education and community programs.

Circulation within the high school complex is seen as much needed exercise. Sitting for long periods requires periods of activity so the long corridors and multiple stair connections are a method of exercising. To move from one academy to another the lower level must be used. So it is easy for faculty and staff to do this, but it will encourage separation between the students from each school.

The open space strategy is primarily aimed at improving the learning environment by increasing the student’s exposure to our natural environment (Light and Air), while reducing energy and equipment costs associated with artificially lighting and conditioning the space. The multiple courtyards will allow cross ventilation and sunlight into the outside and inside space throughout the school day. ]]> http://standing.com/203/feed 0 http://standing.com/193 http://standing.com/193#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:33:14 +0000 Alastair http://alastair01.webfactional.com/?p=193 The new 3 story structure was placed on the westerly edge of the site to maximize the playground located between it and the original school. The interior connection between is below grade so that the historic structure can be preserved without above ground interference. An open-space matrix was developed that would permit the majority of classrooms to be adjacent to the interior connection, below grade. The 3 school communities have their own discreet location but share the same general space, around the playground and function as parts of a single school community. The ribbon concept is used to unify the open space matrix, between the terraces in the 3 story structure and the courtyards on the ground.   Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment The school program is organized on the site according to this diagram and it shows how the open space matrix is used for all the classrooms. The idea allows light and air to surround these important learning environments promoting health and comfort for students and teachers as well as conserving energy. This concept is used both in the 3 story building as terraces and in the playground building as courtyards. It also pulls the architectural scale of the school program back toward that of the residential community of which it is a part.The main entrance is from Tyler street with a secondary entrance for the Pre-K and Kindergarten community on Benton Street. In each case a level change is required to access some of the program. The main connection between the old and new structures is below ground, with elevators at each end to provide an accessible route and negotiate level change.Vivid color is used throughout the architecture as both a navigational tool and a way of describing the ribbon idea clearly to the children and the neighborhood. The exterior surface and therefore material of the ribbon remains outside along it length .      ]]> http://standing.com/193/feed 0