Whenever you hear the name High Tech High School, most people would think of a huge building with huge windows and giants computer screens lighting up the outside world. However, that is not the case. The exterior of the school is discolored; different building materials are used and it is on a hill. The exterior doesn’t really live up to the name and looks more like a factory. The interior is completely different. The interior is clean and doesn’t relate to the outside. One of the main problems is that the mall area in High Tech gets overcrowded and there isn’t enough room for the amount of students in the school. I decided to build on a section of the school that is empty space and has the potential to become something great. This addition will add more space to the school and create a better work environment.The area I decide to build is in the main building above the mall area. There is a lot of potential above this area where a new technology wing can be built. My inspiration building is the “International School†located in The Netherlands:
Architect: Atelier PRO Architects
Location: Netherlands
http://www.designshare.com/index.php/projects/the-international-school/i...
http://www.designshare.com/index.php/projects/the-international-school/i...
I chose this building as an inspiration because I liked how there is a lot of open space. The students wont feel crowded and that will make there learning experience even more enjoyable.
rcox's work for the Collect Information step:
In order to see how other students and teachers view the idea of a new technology wing in High Tech, I decided to interview them. These are the results:
Questions for Mathematics Teacher: Steven Ricciardi
1) How could a new technology center make your work environment more technologically savvy? It would help the students more than it would help me. I am satisfied with the type and level of technology we have in AACT.
2) What is the main problem with technology in High Tech? The main issue is the technology we have doesn’t always work properly. Also the time it takes to fix tech issues prevents students and teachers from completing work.
3) What is your ideal workspace? And what would it include? My current environment is adequate for my needs.
4) How should this new technology wing/ learning center come off to students? It should provide them with the tools necessary to begin college way ahead of their competition.
5) What spaces/rooms would you recommend the technology center have? An open computer space.
Questions for Student: Dwight Mathis (Buisness Major)
1) What sorts of technology is missing from the school that can make you a better student? The kind of technology that is missing from the school is not necessarily technology. The main thing missing that could make me a better student is a library because I learn better through books.
2) How could a new technology wing/ learning center improve the school? We could benefit tremendously from that. We could use that learning center to our advantage by not only using it for education but also for many other things. It will also improve the school by creating more space because the mall area can get crowded from time to time.
3) What is a glaring problem about High Tech that a technology wing/ learning center can improve? A technology wing or learning center could create organization that people have trouble with today. From making schedules to making all our homework assignments computerized, everything can be done in one central location.
4) What is the environment in which you can produce the best work? A nice quiet learning environment with a computer at my disposal is all I need. Being alone helps me focus all of thoughts into my work without any distractions.
5) Does High Tech High School live up to its name? High Tech is starting to live up to its name. Even though the outside doesn’t live up to the name, the inside clearly does. There are computers everywhere and once you step into the building, you get a technological feel automatically. For example, math is starting to transition towards a technological approach. Today everybody is using the projectors and a lot of math classes are being taken online just like High Tech.
Questions for Student: Soraya Hebron
1) What sorts of technology is missing from the school that can make you a better student? The sorts of technology missing are in my opinion nothing because I feel as if we have enough in place in order to be productive students.
2) How could a new technology wing/ learning center improve the school? I don't think that a new technology wing is necessary. Students have computers for research, cameras, Macintosh computers, and audio equipment for their majors. What else do we need? More focus needs to be put on what students can do with the technology they’re given.
3) What is a glaring problem about High Tech that a technology wing/ learning center can improve? There are no problems at High Tech that a technology wing could fix. As far as I can see, everyone has the technology that they need to complete assignments and learn effectively.
4) What is the environment in which you can produce the best work? I produce the best work in the classroom because I can easily get feed back form teachers if I don’t understand something. It also helps if there is a computer, textbook, or something I can make a reference to nearby.
5) Does High Tech High School live up to its name? Yes, High Tech lives up to its name because it provides its students with all of the technological equipment required to fully understand the subject they're studying.
The program outline is one key component of the prject because it shows what rooms will be in the wing.
Program Outline
-Presentation Room
-Bathroom
-Faculty Room
-Storage Room
-Circulation/ Open Space
-Library
rcox's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:
My concept for my technology wing is a flower because of it's structure and order.
This step of the project begins with us developing a concept that can help us begin the construction of our technology wing. A concept is a general idea that comes from a specific object or something that is inspirational. My concept is a flower because a few reasons. Whenever a person thinks of a flower, they think of beauty and symmetry. However, the reason why I chose a flower is because of its petals and its core. The petals of the flower branch out into different directions and it seems as if they are separate from the flower. But, the core links them all together which holds everything into place. My technology wing has the same idea because I want to build a new wing with a lot of space and a place that can be used for multiple purposes. The core of the flower would be the “Mall Area†where everything comes together. Like each petal is on its own, I like the idea of having spots in the wing that make you feel away from the crowd because that will enhance your ability to learn.
rcox's work for the Develop Solutions step:
Site Plan of High Tech High School
This Site Plan indicates where I will be creating this technology wing and any changes made in the surrounding area.
Section that shows my idea of extending my wing off the roof and changing the front of the school
Another idea which involves the use of reflective glass.
Inspiration Building "The Hearst Tower."
Initial idea on having a rooftop garden on top of the Mall Area.
New idea on the Mall Area. Water flows down the roof and falls into a water containment bin. A rooftop garden is also evident.
Prospective drawing shwoing what the Mall Area would look like with the changes made to it.
Updated Site Plan.
Rooftop Garden idea.
During this process of the project, we began having weekly pin-ups showing our current progress with our technology wing. These pin-ups help me get great feedback from others and give me a lot of new ideas for my wing. These images show some ideas on what I intend to do with the site, but they are not a final idea. One of my ideas is to build the wing on top of the school and push it out far enough so I can change the front of the school. Our school had two entrances, one deemed as the front but only the teachers go through there and the one everyone goes through known as the side entrance. By changing the front of the school, I can change the whole dynamic of the school because I can make the side entrance into the main entrance point in the building. These are some ideas I have, but more ideas, suggestions, inspirational buildings, or criticism is welcome.
The next step of my project required me to find a new idea about how to enhance my idea. An idea of mine was to add a rooftop garden on the roof of the Mall Area and have a skylight to bring more light into the building. However, after having a silent pin-up and hearing everyone's feedback and ideas on my project, I decided to move the rooftop garden on top of the cafeteria. I like this idea better because now students can have another place to go and have an outdoor feel on top of a roof. My most recent idea is to slant the roof so water can flow down through the Mall Area. The water will flow from the roof into water containment containers and will be recycled and re-used. By slanting the roof, I was also able to open up the Mall Area even more to get a lot of sunlight inside. My technology wing will be to the right of the Mall Area and will branch off the roof, thus changing the whole dynamic of the front of the school.
rcox's work for the Final Design step:
Elevation of the front of the building. Even though it is simple, I feel it shows a lot.
The Floor Plan of the first floor of my Technology Wing.
Section of the Technology Wing and the Rooftop Garden.
Site Plan showing where I will be building my Technology Wing.
This part of the design process was the hardest part by far because of the amount of work needed to complete the project.
Comments
Interested to hear and see your research, initial ideas and how far you are able to take your design. Best of luck as you start out on the process.
Thank you for your support and I will keep you updated throughout the whole process. Today we discussed the Program Plan and five questions that can be asked to the students and the staff about this new technology wing.
I am looking forward to what you come up with for the technology wing. I checked out the school in google maps and agree with your points about the adjacent shopping malls. It is interesting to observe all of the retail on one side of Tonnele Avenue and all of the residential neighborhoods on the other side. Where does the school, and the technology wing, fit into these two very different building types? Your addition should acknowledge these other elements.
Take advantage of things that are first may seem to be challenging. Your school is on a hill - this might lead to all sorts of stairs, terraces and theater type classrooms and exterior spaces. You may not be fond of your school's exterior, but this will also help to contrast with your technology wing if you want it to read as a completely new element.
A great project for you to look at would be the Nueva School. The site and architectural context are very different, but the challenge of an addition on a hillside is very similar to High Tech. Have a look through the various sections: http://www.tah2.org/think/site
Post some of your ideas about where the new wing would be located and why. Think about the context around it, and then internally how would it link into the rest of the school. Keep up the good ideas.
It looks like you have gathered quite a bit of information. The interview Q/A that you posted is very helpful. Notice that each had different ideas about the best places to study and learn, from a wide open space, to individual cubicles to focus without distractions. Your solution may need to cater to all of these different needs.
One point that has been made several times is that the outside of the school does not express the 'technology' aspect of the learning that transpires inside. Fundamentally, a school is usually constructed with the idea of a 50-100 year lifespan. They are generally paid by for through governments and therefore taxes, so the public wants to know that their money is invested in the long term. Therefore, if your technology wing is meant to express 'High Tech' in 2010/11, how will it appear to students of 2060? It may seem as a relic of our age as much as finding an iPhone in 2060. It is the real challenge for your scheme to have the longevity of a 'school' while also portraying what 'technology' means expressed in built materials.
An excellent example of similar building, though for a university, is Crown Hall at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. The building is from the 1950s - likely older than your current school building but you would guess that it might be from the present because of its use of glass, steel and wide open spaces for the classrooms. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Crown_Hall.html
Your first site diagram and then the aerial photo with the school plan on top are very helpful in understanding the context. Looking forward to seeing your initial concepts.
Thank you. The Q/A was very helpful and informing for me because I was able to get a different point of view from others. There point of views helped me think about other ways in which I could enhance this technology wing into something people will love. I also understand what you mean about the life span of the school because I dont want a wing that would look out of date in the future. Our next assignment is a site model that can give us a better look of the site. I will post photos and information whenever they become available.
Great progress so far. Your inspiration project is an excellent choice. The functionally required circulation space becomes the feature element. There are other examples of this in higher education where the main circulation element becomes the primary gathering and interactive space. Westminster Academy, a high school in London: http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/westminster-academy. The use of color, bold graphics and the overall proportion of the space create a dynamic environment that is in contrast to the fairly standard classroom spaces.
While this project is for a university and is a stand alone building rather than a new wing, it might not be too far off from your own challenges. Have a read through the text and take a look at the images: http://web.mit.edu/facilities/construction/completed/stata.html
Frank Gehry has talked that while all of the researchers were interested in their labs and offices, he gave them an amazing space between these elements where people can meet for coffee or just by chance, and that these exchanges were the most important for learning. The exchange of knowledge is encouraged by architecture.
Keep up the excellent work.
The use of natural elements, such as a flower, for analogy can be a wonderful way of inspiring and informing the next steps in your design process. Now it is time to consider how this is expressed architecturally through spaces, volumes and materials. How do the elements of your program relate to the 'mall' and each other? How does this new wing relate to the existing school?
Keep up the great work. I am excited to see where you take the concept.
Great job so far Reggie. I am impressed with the explanation of your concept. It shows me that you have a clear a focus heading into this next phase of the project. At this stage in the process you should have most of the ingredients necessary to begin the design process: analysis of site, a preliminary concept, and a program outline. Jump right in by creating bubble diagrams showing relationships of spaces for the proposed addition, diagrams depicting the relationship of your addition to the existing school, and developing your concept in regard to its relationship to the context of the site and your pre-defined program. Don’t be concerned with the neatness of your sketches at this point. This phase of the design process is about allowing your ideas to flow freely from your mind to the paper. This stage can also be a bit overwhelming so make sure not to lose sight of your concept and the rest of the site’s conditions. Keep up the good work.
The idea of a flower helps me fully understand what I want my building to look like and what its function will be. However, I believe I should build in a different location because by building above the mall area, a few things occur. The natural sunlight that the mall area receives disappears and the whole dynamic of the school changes because now the mall area seems smaller. By having the roof so high up, you feel a sense of space and freedom throughout the mall area. I will keep you posted on any further information and decisions made about a relocation.
You are making intelligent, rational decisions about how the space will look, feel and relate to the environment. As a bit of a challenge, try to visualize that process in drawings rather than words. Often by drawing something our initial assumptions are challenged. Perhaps the idea you thought worked does not and the idea you may have dismissed actually has some merit.
Make quick rough sketches and post your process.
It is great to see your ideas expressed in architectural drawings rather than just in words. Even more impressive is seeing sections - these are often the most difficult to produce, however they provide the most accurate representation of how a space will be experienced. Plans are perfect to organize space, and elevations provide similar for the skin. Bonus appreciation for including a title, drawing scale, and a figure for proportion. These are often left out because we run out of time, but they are absolutely critical.
However, I could not readily tell where the sections were cut. This is important when you add an element such as the sloped glazing. Will this face northeast and receive mostly diffuse lighting? Or does it face southwest where it will have more direct lighting? Look back at your original reference, the International School for an excellent example of daylit spaces.
Again, great progress and I look forward to seeing just how far you can take your ideas.