Wyoming High School Dan Jones Center For Research and Innovation

Project Narrative

Wyoming High School’s existing library was reimagined into a multi-modal center, delivering research and presentation space that supports cross-disciplinary learning.

High transparency from the entrance and corridor offers views into this new world of flexible, collaborative and curiosity-based learning. Starting with the school’s brand colors, the floor pattern creates a sense of movement, drawing visitors into the space. Various furniture and seating areas delineate specific spaces within the open plan: a curved desk for digital research; collaborative lounge seating for casual brainstorming, bookcases for focused reading; a mezzanine for a quiet getaway. Textural elements including wood, block and exterior brick add warmth to the space.

Acoustically separate yet visually connected small group rooms provide team space and labs offering audio, video and fabrication creation support hands-on learning. The large group room delivers an environment for high-tech presentations. Markerboard surfaces on tables, upper cabinet lab doors, and small group room dividers capture work-in-process ideas. Outside the center’s entrance, stairsteps added to an underutilized central circulation hub support presentations or casual hangouts.

The center’s design not only supports students with various curriculum options but also prepares them for college and their professional careers. By focusing on the needs of the students to better support project-based learning, STREAM curriculum and capstone research projects, the forward-thinking design creates an engaging, effective use of space.

                                           

Project Details

Submission Category

Interior Architecture- Small Scale (<5,000 sf)

Date of Completion

September, 2020