The Developmental Learning Center-Warren, a new learning facility for educating students with Autism, has the look and feel of a real "community." The vision was to recreate the "outside world," while maintaining safety, security and structure within a self-contained, controlled environment. USA Architects has literally brought the world to the classroom, f... more

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School needed a gymnasium that was functional in design and large enough to contain all 2,000 of the district´s students. A 10,000-sq.-ft. gymnasium addition was designed that allowed the entire student body to congregate comfortably in one centralized location for sports games and events. The gymnasium is one of the largest in t... more

This new space infuses Branksome Hall with natural light and provides much-needed breathing space, while creating a logical current of circulation. The Forum, a sunken interior courtyard with direct access to the exterior playground, exploits 1,100 square feet of communal ground-floor area for meetings, displays, break out space, lunches and general socializ... more

Light monitors allow natural light to flood the flex spaces, making it a friendly and inviting space for students and teachers to work and learn. By utilizing natural lighting, the school was also able to save on electricity, and helped to promote a healthier learning environment.... more

Tabor’s marine science center attracts students to the school who are interested in studying marine biology and oceanography. The architectural challenge was to replace an aging waterfront residence located in a hurricane velocity zone with a state of the art marine science laboratory. The design solution is as elegant as it is hard working in spite of th... more

De La Salle High School´s commitment to nurture the spiritual, emotional, and academic growth of every student is evident in this first phase of a 20-year strategic plan. The 20,250-sq.-ft. Student Center provides a focal point of arrival on a campus, which previously lacked a front door. Its distinctive facade captures the attention of drivers on the adj... more

This multipurpose pavilion is open on all sides. Seeming more like a covered courtyard, this space will never smell like a sweaty locker room, and because the ventilation system is all natural, there is no cost to heat or cool the building. The monumental roof also provides adequate shade and protection from the elements, yet the space still feels intimate. ... more

Graced by century-old oaks and willows, the Solebury School campus is a rustic agrarian village built around an original farmhouse, barn and outbuildings. The first modern structure on campus, the Abbe Science Center is shaped by its rural surroundings and the environmentally sensible culture of the school. The science center´s ´corn crib´ aesthetic - modele... more

Helen Bernstein High School maximizes its compact urban site by utilizing multi-story buildings which address the scale of the adjacent freeway while preserving open green space for the surrounding dense community. The highly flexible plan allows for internal organization into smaller learning communities, and showcases views of the surrounding mountains and... more

The Chapel is both an intimate setting for small groups and a communal space for up to 500. A set of three curved walls symbolizes the Trinity and features a T-shaped opening framing a large exterior metal cross. Light scoops at the sanctuary entrance and altar emphasize arrival into, and presence within, a space of importance. Copper-clad surfaces and contr... more

Located at one end of the atrium on the intermediate level, the library, cylindrical in shape and two stories high, is covered by a 60-ft. translucent dome. All of the book stacks and fixed items have been located on the exterior perimeter wall with reading/study functions in the center to provide flexibility for dual functions for group instruction and afte... more

This was a complete interior renovation of an intermediate school auditorium, originally built in 1970. The auditorium had been finished principally in glazed structural facing tile, resulting in a very high level of ambient noise reflection, decreasing the intelligibility of both spoken and musical performances. Acoustics were an important concern for the... more

Theming (or wayfinding) can help young students associate with “their” house or home area. Themes can also create a nicer school by increasing circulation opportunities, identifying grade levels, expanding educational prospects, and adding interest to the overall building. By using patterns and colors, the school becomes more vibrant, and moving through it b... more

As part of the renovations to their school district, Albion Central School district officials wanted to create a unique and personal entry for their middle school. The project architect suggested doing something special in the lobby that could be translated into a tile mural. As recommended, an art contest was held, and three students’ pieces that best conve... more

Hoover Middle School modernization project is a part of San Francisco Unified School Districts accessibility upgrades program. The school was constructed in the 1950’s on an abandoned quarry. The school site presented several significant challenges: · Provide equivalent access to all students regardless of their physical capabilities from the sidewalk to ... more

In many buildings, sustainability is invisible. It’s a breath of clean air; it’s the reduced use of water; or it’s the material you’re standing on while your attention is focused on your activity. But at Pioneer Middle School in DuPont, Wash., the value of sustainable choices and building features is not only visible, it is linked to everyday learning. Th... more

Main Street embodies the totality of design concepts for Vansville Elementary School: to create visually clean spaces suffused with natural light and air, to create a community focal point, to facilitate functionality through appropriate adjacencies and clear organizational relationships, to create visual connections between prominent spaces to make a con... more

This was the first school in its state to install an entirely new generation of playsystems that keeps kids playing longer and with more physical exertion. The new playsystem is designed to build a child’s physical strength, agility, balance, and coordination as he or she plays. Unlike traditional playsystems that feature prescribed entry and exit points, it... more

In response to the client’s desire for a campus atmosphere, the arts and athletic facilities are located in separate buildings near the high school building’s front door to facilitate public access during and after school hours. Alpharetta High School features two adjacent art rooms a 2D lab and a 3D lab, that are located in the Arts and Music Building. This... more

The new building features expansive windows on three sides that will allow students and the community to visualize how the system works. Within the plant, wood chips travel by way of an auger from a fuel bunker into a gasifier where they are heated to 2,200 degrees, ignite and create gas. The gas is burned in a standard boiler to produce hot water which is d... more