Student Mall

The new Student Mall addition to the Pasco High School campus provides a central focal point for the school Pasco High School has the single largest enrollment of all Washington high schools; currently 3,400 students in grades 9 through 12. The design process for the Student Mall addition began with direct student input through on-site design workshops, in which students brought forth their ideas for the new Student Mall. Through this process it was possible to create a new space for the high school that was relevant to the student's lifestyle, meeting their social and intellectual needs.
The mall successfully focuses student activities, traffic patterns and eductional services to converge at one impressive day-lit location. By providing a central, spacious volume and open floor plan with smaller, more intimate spaces arranged around the periphery, the Student Mall provides a mixed range of uses to meet the needs of this bustling educational community. Whether used for "food court" style meal activity, as the assembly area for a seasonal pep rally, the social nucleus of a school dance, or the accommodation of everyday activities such as offices, flexible teaching space, social nooks on the mezzanine and breakout spaces below; the student mall facilitates multiple functions in a welcoming atmosphere that fosters social interaction. The perimeter of the mall provides the supporting functions of Student Government, Student Store and Bank, Food Court, Pathways/Senior Projects offices, Attendance office, and School Security office. The new central and visible Security location enhances overall campus safety.
The basic building form provides daylight reaching far into the spacious volume with the preferred northern light from overhead clerestory windows that minimizes glare, provides adequate light levels, conserves energy and above all creates an inviting student and staff environment. In addition, the east facing window wall leads directly onto an exterior courtyard that eliminates the visual boundary between indoor and outdoor space, providing access to the school's courtyard.