As part of a district-wide bond program, Central Park Elementary was designed to replace two nearby aging elementary schools under one roof. The site of a vacant existing high school facility was redeveloped to construct the new elementary school, while allowing a portion of the existing building to preserve the district’s Central Auditorium. The existing obsolete classroom wings of the high school were demolished but the original cafeteria and gymnasium spaces were incorporated into the footprint of the new building, becoming the media center and cafeteria areas respectively. The high school’s original art deco auditorium and surrounding support areas were also remodeled to preserve the use of the auditorium.

Designed specifically for STEM education, the district’s use of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum was a direct influence on the design of the facility. Grade level learning suites were developed to maximize the PLTW and STEM education. The STEM learning environment also extends to the exterior of the building where outdoor learning areas flank each learning suite.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Midland Central Park Elementary
Client:
Midland Public Schools
Location:
Midland, Michigan
Cost:
$18,842,500
Sq Ft:
84,860
Completed:
2017

Project Summery:

This $1.45 million project, with 11,600 sq ft of additional or renovated space, includes a school store, expanded cafeteria seating and new offices. In addition to a complete exterior window replacement and extensive interior renovations, the new 7,000 square foot Collaborative Center is the focal point of the high school. The Center is situated at the end of a beautiful colonnade of mature shade trees. Window mullion patterns reflect the leaf structure while the main structure of the addition is a “Tree of Knowledge”, a structure with five “branches” reaching toward the courtyard and supporting the roof structure. The Center provides an extension to the cafeteria, as well as an inviting space for various size groups to gather. There are a variety of seating options to encourage multi-level collaboration between students, staff, parents and the community. The space also has a variety of technology resources, including pod workstations, two projection screens and a sound system.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Berkley High School
Client:
Berkley School District
Location:
Berkley, MI
Cost:
$10,350,000
Sq Ft:
11,600
Completed:
2003

Project Summery:

Rochester’s newest high school is a 320,000 sf, three-story building designed for 1500 students. Constrained by the limitations of the site, the design incorporates three educational wings: Physical Education, Fine Arts, and Academic Studies. The wings surround the Media Center, which serves as the focal point for the school. Situated on 75 acres, the topography dictated the need for some creative solutions to adapt this former gravel mining property. For instance, the “bowl” left by the mining operation became the site of the new athletic stadium.

Project features include a competition natatorium with diving pool, professional quality auditorium, media center, eight tennis courts, outdoor track, and lighted football/ soccer stadium. A landscaped, timber walkway links the indoor athletic facility to the outdoor fields.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Stoney Creek High School
Client:
Rochester Community Schools
Location:
Rochester, MI
Cost:
$44,000,000
Sq Ft:
19,500
Completed:
2008

Project Summery:

Kettering High School was master planned as a part of a series of bond issues in Waterford School District. One of the first phases of that plan called for the construction of a new competition gymnasium and main entrance addition. The most recent phase was the addition of a new natatorium complex. The gymnasium addition features a walking corridor that fully surrounds the gymnasium. This space is utilized by the public as well. The gymnasium has two full-size, practice cross-court basketball and volleyball courts along with a central competition court. The facility accommodates more than 1,800 spectators arranged arena-style. The natatorium features a 25-meter x 25-yard competition pool with a 3-meter diving board and a separate 3′-6″ deep instructional/therapeutic pool. The space accommodates up to 400 spectators in a second floor balcony area. Overlooking the pool is a fitness center used by students as well as community members with purchased memberships.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Kettering High School
Client:
Waterford School District
Location:
Waterford, MI
Cost:
$13,710,331
Sq Ft:
39,000
Completed:
2006

Parker High School offers a flex scheduling option to its students. The architecture, allowing the facility to be in use from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm, was specifically designed to work with that system. It includes partnership spaces for use by the local community college, business partners and training programs. The design features two separate structures, an academic building and a fieldhouse unified by a circulation spine or “knowledge mall”. The academic building features 6 academies, a twostory media center, dining commons, staff-less school store, and a theater/fine arts zone. A covered walk leads to the athletic building, which houses a gymnasium, natatorium, two weight/nautilus rooms, an athletic field with synthetic running track, and a stadium with grandstands built into the side of the fieldhouse.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Parker High School
Client:
Howell Public Schools
Location:
Howell, MI
Cost:
$52,000,000
Sq Ft:
300,000
Completed:
2007
Project Summary:

Set within a 20-acre picturesque site on the edge of a wetland preserve, Eagle Creek Academy’s facility emphasizes the surrounding natural features. Natural light and geothermal heating cooling systems make this 250-student K-8 school an extension of it’s environment. Each classroom has a view of the wetland, access to an outdoor deck that runs along the back of the building, a storage zone, kitchenette, student workstations, document cameras and large plasma monitors. Exposed wood ceilings are present in every classroom as well as the gymnasium, cafeteria and media center. The media center’s form, timber structure, transparent enclosure, trunk-like wood columns and wood trusses are the focal point of the exterior design and main entrance.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Eagle Creek Academy
Client:
Eagle Creek Academy
Location:
Oakland, MI
Cost:
$12,000,000
Sq Ft:
56,000
Completed:
2005

Project Summery:

In order to merge the Administrative Staff Services and Board of Education facilities from multiple sites, we expanded the existing 9,100 sq ft administrative office building. Additions include more offices, conference rooms and a Board of Education meeting room, which doubles as a space for large gatherings, school activities and community meetings. There was also a need for a new Early Childhood Center to house the Kindergarten Kids Connection, Funshine Preschool, extended preschool care and preschool enrichment programs.

The exterior design is intended to blend with the surrounding residential environment. In an effort to be sensitive to these surrounding, each classroom is its own separate entity, breaking up the large building and making it appear smaller in scale. Individual cupolas were added to complete the older “school-house” feel of the architecture.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Early Childhood Center & Administrative Offices
Client:
Clarkston Community Schools
Location:
Clarkston, MI
Cost:
$13,786,000
Sq Ft:
68,880
Completed:
2005

Project Summary:

In 2007, Grosse Ile Township Schools began construction at Grosse Ile High School. The original building, constructed in the 1950’s, had inadequate space for the cafeteria and media center. Designed with curved exterior walls featuring large spans of glass, the new cafeteria and media center are filled with natural light, a sharp contrast to the old, dimly lit interior. The new exterior’s undulating curves mimic the shorelines of Grosse Ile.

A carefully phased building plan allowed the kitchen, which needed little remodeling, to serve the existing cafeteria until the new space opened on the opposite side. The kitchen simply transitioned to serving the new space with no loss of service or safety.

Existing building areas were also renewed, including a remodeled gymnasium and science labs. The former cafeteria was converted into specialty classroom space while the former media center became the new central office, strategically located to monitor and control the building’s new main entrance.

Project Details:

Project Name:
Grosse Ile High School
Client:
Grosse Ile Township Schools
Location:
Grosse Ile, MI
Cost:
$8,500,000
Sq Ft:
119,110
Completed:
2008

Project Summery: