Project Description
FROM BETTISWORTH NORTH ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS:
Key components of the design of the Ryan Middle School replacement were formulated during the educational specification Planning Labs with borough and school district personnel, students, school administrators, and teachers. Bettisworth North worked closely with Perkins + Will designers to create a flexible and inspiring solution. The heart of the school is the common area, surrounded by the media center, performing arts space, kitchen, and stage. Classrooms and teaching areas, along with lockers and project based learning spaces, are arranged around the common area. Classrooms have operable partitions between them to allow rooms to expand and a high level of transparency to the project resource area, allowing passive security to this space and the resource rooms beyond. The school media center opens to the commons area, expanding opportunities for larger groups to experience media resources and promote a more active academic environment. Energy efficiency measures include the use of high efficiency windows, well insulated walls and roof, displacement ventilation, LED lights, occupancy and daylight sensors, which automatically dim or shut off lighting when not needed, and efficient building systems such as Displacement ventilation, and natural gas boilers with district heat back-up, and diesel back-up power generator.