Middle School Seven

Richland School District Two

Completion Date
estimated completion 2011

Project Budget
$31.7 million

Richland School District Two’s new Middle School is located in the rapidly growing Blythe­wood area and will initially accommodate 1050 students. The 40 acre site includes play fields and a planned area for a future center magnet program. The building was oriented north/south on the site to maximize daylighting in all the major learning spaces and in corridor and public spaces. The design features many sustainable principles – in addition to daylighting, energy efficient mechanical systems, local & recycled materials, and indigenous landscape are featured. The building is organized around a large courtyard that features outdoor learning and teaching spaces via a pavilion and landscaped areas. The building design features three academic wings with flexible, collaborative central spaces to provide a diversity of learning options. Within each house are larger flexible classrooms that open via large folding glass doors into two story collaboration areas full of daylight from the clerestory above. The exterior of the building combines local brick, glass and metal panels in a timeless but modern compo­sition. The project is designed in collaboration with Perkins + Will K-12 Studio.