Higher Court(yard)

The challenge of the new Roy Martin Middle school was to include all programmed functions on a 10 acre site that, in the past, has been placed on 20 acres with a single story building. A difficult challenge considering there are 6-1/2 acres of ballfields and parking associated with each school site. Therefore, the driving force of the two-story concept is the elevated central courtyard. All functions of the school center around this courtyard allowing for fluid circulation throughout the complex. Because of the desire for the open campus feeling, the buildings are separated, which allows for unique architectural identities for each primary school function (i.e. Commons, Gym, Administration, Arts and Classroom). Similarly, this campus courtyard design approach allows for the necessary distance between buildings for natural daylighting to occur.

It was imperative that the new middle school integrate daylighting into the design from the beginning. Therefore, the architectural forms evolved in order to create the most beneficial passive daylighting design strategy. Daylighting for the two-story classrooms will occur in two ways: Classrooms on the second level have direct light from above via roof monitors and windows, allowing for even lighting throughout the room. Classrooms on the first floor receive daylight via light shafts that penetrate between classrooms on the second floor to rooms on the first. These light shafts also act as ancillary space for mechanical and electrical needs. Natural daylighting decreases the amount of artificial lighting required to illuminate interior spaces, decreasing the heat load and energy costs caused by artificial lights. Each classroom is capable of receiving enough daylight throughout the year to only require artificial lighting 30% of the time classrooms are in use. By utilizing this daylighting strategy, the school is able to save on electrical consumption as well as create an inspiring learning environment.