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By alondra M | XL Design an Addition for your School

Overview Instructions

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Ralph Ellison Campus, Chicago

Many schools were designed for the past and don’t reflect the 21st century learning environment. Some buildings need better ventilation or lighting, while others are simply not large enough to accommodate students comfortably. For this project, you are encouraged to envision an improvement for your school, something that would benefit everyone who uses it. The most successful designs will be ones that identify a specific need and present a strong design solution. The challenge is to add something that changes the footprint of your school building, while addressing a specifically identified need. Projects should include research and development, real world images and information showing why the need exists, in addition to final project design and information.

We want to create a courtyard that can serve as an area for students to sit back and socialize with other students. We want to include a stage, seating areas, and a cafe. The cafe will be located on the top of the seating area with free wifi. This area will have bike racks and an area to walk. There will be a second area that is quiet so that students can do homework or study. This area would only be for seniors since the courtyard wouldnt be able to accommodate 3000 students.

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By alondra M, Student at 08:15 am, 31 October 2014

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Reeds Spring High School Addition, Reeds Spring, MO

Think About

  • What is the size of your school building? Using Google Earth and other online resources, generate a site plan for your school location.
  • What are your initial thoughts about the building? For example, is your school lacking room for art classes? Physical education? Band practice space? Common areas? Cafeteria space?
  • Talk to someone who has been at your school for a while, like a teacher or administrator. They will most likely have great insight as to what areas could stand to be improved.
  • Has anything like this ever been done in the past? If so, what were the results?
  • For more research, we recommend looking at “The Third Teacher: 79 Ways You Can Design to Transform Teaching & Learning,” by OWP/P Architects + VS Furniture + Bruce Mau. The book is easy to digest with lots of great images and design ideas, meant to inspire readers like you. The website for the book is also a great resource.
  • Search online for newly built schools and others that have been upgraded through similar processes. Do you notice anything in common among newly built schools?

alondra M's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
These images are our inspiration for the remodeling of the tennis court at Curie High School. Our ideas will benefit the environment and the students.
This image inspired us to cover the courtyard with several skylights for the purpose of natural...
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We want to create a similar roof. It will be for cafe area. This will shelter us from the elements...
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We will be using this type of door to make the courtyard a year round area. The doors would provide...
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We want to create a landscape like the one shown in this picture. This stair design would make more...
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This is where our courtyard would be located. We chose the tennis court because the area is not...
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This is the tennis court that is never used. The nets are not even set up.
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Curie does not have a tennis team and the park next to it attracts more attention so it is always...
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Karns High School Addition Plan, Knoxville, TN

Identify the problem you want to solve based on the information you have collected.

Explore at least three possible solutions, each of which will no doubt help you as you search for the best addition to your school.

  • What could your ideas look like?
  • How would it change the landscape of your school?
  • Who will benefit most from your design solution?

Try to answer these questions visually through sketching, and in words by taking notes.

alondra M's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
In this tab we will be brainstorming solutions for the tennis court area. We will have multiple sketches and diagrams to show the improvements. These ideas and sketches may change over time.
This is the bubble diagram that we developed. Its a general idea of how we would organize the area.
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This sketch shows the different pathways we will have to go around the area. It also includes...
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This is the quiet area. It will have tables and seats so the students can do homework or just relax...
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This is the cafe that will be located on one corner of the courtyard. There are steps leading up to...
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This is the side view of the cafe
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This is the bike shelter. It has a slanted roof to protect the bikes from harsh weather. It is made...
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this is a general layout of where the cafe, quiet area, and the bike rack would be located. It is...
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Fridley High School Addition Plan, Fridley, MN

From the previous step, where you developed multiple solutions to the design problem, you should select one of your designs.

  • What is your favorite design? Why?
  • What aspects of your school would it improve?
  • Who would benefit most from your new design?
  • What materials would you be using, and why?

Ideally you will want to create plans of some kind to communicate your final vision, so start to sketch site plans, elevations, and even a floor plan if necessary.

alondra M's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
In this tab we will show the materials that we will use. Most of the materials we are using are sustainable. We will also show the alpha stage of the structures in the courtyard.
This area will be the cafe. The concrete used to create these steps will be Eco stone. Half of the...
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This is the greenhouse that includes the quiet area.
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These are the pathways that are made with eco stone. Eco stone is an environmentally friendly stone...
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In this image we are showing the recycled glass made from demolished buildings. We used it as a...
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This is the sitting area located on the pathways.
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These seats will be made of sustainable wood building material that was recycled.
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Alexander Graham Bell School Addition, Chicago

Present your final design to your class, to get feedback before completing your project. If you talked to other people while working on and researching for this project, show them your design and get their feedback. If they talked to you before, they will want to see what you’ve created! Take notes during these conversations, and try to understand their suggestions before deciding if you wish to make any changes to your final design.

Carefully take stock of feedback from others and do your best to find the information that will help you finalize your project. Someone might tell you something seemingly small, but that bit of information might be the difference between a good project and a great one.

alondra M's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
This is our final design of the courtyard. We have two different structures that serve as a shelter for when there is bad weather and we also have a seating area in between.
This is the final design for the mid section of the courtyard. These pathways lead you around the...
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These seats are located in between pathways. The seats are different heights for different purposes...
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This location is the cafe. The roof is recycled glass from demolished buildings. This type of roof...
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This is the eating area for the cafe. It is filled with several tables and chairs so more students...
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This is the over the counter cafe. It has several stools so students can sit. The roof of the cafe...
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This is the greenhouse/quiet area. It is mostly made up of glass so the plants get light while they...
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This is a sitting area within the greenhouse/quiet area so that the students can read, study, and...
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