PROJECT Frederick High School

LOCATION  Frederick, Maryland US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  6/1/2018

ARCHITECT  GWWO Architects

ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT/DESIGNER  

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Paul Hume, AIA, LEED AP; Alan Reed, FAIA, LEED AP; Eric Feiss, AIA, LEED AP; Kathy Speicher Melluish, AIA, LEED AP; Kate Scurlock, AIA; Dan Audette, AIA; Jon Leo

OWNER/CLIENT Frederick County Public Schools

CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Oak Contracting

PHOTOGRAPHER  Robert Creamer / Tom Holdsworth

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT KCI Technologies, Inc.
CIVIL ENGINEER KCI Technologies, Inc.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Columbia Engineering, Inc.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER Gipe Associates, Inc.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Gipe Associates, Inc.
CONSULTANT Nyikos Associates (Food Service), 18219-A Flower Hill Way, Gaithersburg, MD 20879, pnyikos@nyikos.com, 240-683-9530
CONSULTANT Acoustical Design Collaborative (Acoustical Design), 7509 L’Hirondelle Club Road, Towson, MD 21204, nts@akustx.com, 410-821-5930
CONSULTANT Koffel Associates (Fire Protection), 8815 Centre Park Drive, Suite 200, Columbia, MD 21045, caler@koffel.com, 410-750-2246
CONSULTANT Educational Systems Planning (Technology), 49 Old Solomon’s Island Road, Suite 301, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-573-9148, bjones@educationalsystemsplanning.com
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

Located adjacent to the City of Frederick’s Baker Park, the school’s diverse population reflects its surrounding dynamic community. As Frederick County’s oldest school, FHS’s tradition of excellence began in 1891 with the previous facility opening in 1939. However, the condition of the existing school wasn’t reflective of this tradition. The comprehensive planning and design process for the new high school provides FHS students a state-of-the-art facility that encourages higher achievement, fosters a sense of pride, and embraces the community.

As identified during the planning stage, the Frederick community had strong ties to the historic Frederick High School. A grand exterior staircase and welcoming entry archway visually recollects and honors the iconic 1939 building. Classical elements are carried forward through the molded brick, large scale windows, and belt course. Aligned on access with Fleming Avenue, the entrance addresses the City of Frederick serving as an anchor for the city’s west side in the same manner and prominence as the original school. Distinguished from the more traditional aesthetic of the entry, the athletics volume is clad in a modern, larger format brick in a dark hue that’s also used at the watertable of the entry volume creating a dialogue between the two. Inside, daylighting is ever present through the use of roof monitors and an exterior courtyard which brings natural light to the commons, gallery, and media center. High quality, easily maintainable finishes selected to last will allow the facility to look its best for years to come, inside and out.

Following the principles of modern educational design, the new building is organized around a central core, which represents the heart of the building, and includes large, open, and flexible dining, commons, and enclosed courtyard areas. Besides serving as a main public gathering and circulation space, the heart provides a clear circulation path through the building and can be accessed through dual entrances, creating a social hub of activity.

Supporting a dynamic and flexible curriculum, spaces were programmed to adapt to varied teaching and learning styles and changing pedagogies. General classrooms function as they do in a higher education environment, able to accommodate multiple subjects in the same morning, while a variety of collaboration spaces with varying levels of privacy facilitate project-based learning, mixed learning, and group work.

This premium learning environment has inspired and motivated students to achieve in contrast to the previously undersized, inefficient, and aging facility devoid of natural light. By involving students and teachers throughout the planning and design process, they have returned the effort in-kind in the form of elevated performance. As a result, the new school has raised the bar for student achievement, with many referring to the facility as the “University of Frederick.” Faculty have observed a positive change in student behavior and how they carry themselves. It’s clear the deep sense of pride they now have in the school.
 

JURY COMMENTS (If Applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. Frederick High School_thumbnail / Hallway / Robert Creamer Photography
2. Frederick High School_high res ext / Exterior / Robert Creamer Photography
3. Frederick High School_high res int / Hallway / Robert Creamer Photography

4. Frederick High School_Commons / Commons / Robert Creamer Photography
5. Frederick High School_Think Tank / Think Tank / Robert Creamer Photography
6. Frederick High School_Co-Lab / Co-Lab / Robert Creamer Photography
7. Frederick High School_Courtyard / Courtyard / Tom Holdsworth Photography
8. Frederick High School_Stairway / Stairway / Robert Creamer Photography