PROJECT Graceland Park-O’Donnell Heights ES/MS and Holabird Academy
ARCHITECT Grimm + Parker Architects
LOCATION  Baltimore, Maryland US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  8/21/2020
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Amy Upton AIA, Paul Bradshaw ALEP, Linda Clark AIA, Kat Schooley ALEP, Michael Berry, Assoc. AIA, Kristy Price AIA, Ben Plummer AIA, Kieran Wilmes AIA
OWNER/CLIENT Baltimore City Public Schools
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  CAM Construction Co., Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHER  Martice Tucker
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT SP Arch Inc.
CIVIL ENGINEER MK Consulting Engineers
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Columbia Engineering, Inc.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER CMTA Engineers
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Setty & Associates
CONSULTANT Owner Construction Agent: CBRE | HEERY, Kamau Iandiataiyero, kamau.iandiataiyero@cbre.com
CONSULTANT Food Service Consultant: Hopkins Foodservice Specialists, Inc., Richard Hopkins, rhopkins@hopkinsfoodservice.com
CONSULTANT Sustainability Consultant: The Sheward Partnership, Michael Pavelsky, mwp@tsparch.com
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
Tucked in the inner city of Baltimore, two existing elementary/middle schools have been replaced with the city’s first two Zero Energy and LEED Platinum schools. Located within three city blocks of each other and five miles east of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the two new schools (Graceland Park-O’Donnell Heights ES/MS and Holabird Academy) are based on a new, 94,000 sf prototype design that demonstrate Baltimore’s focus on project-based learning, sustainability, and energy-conscious design for schools in an urban environment. Both schools serve under-resourced neighborhoods with high poverty rates and high numbers of English language learner students.

With identical footprints, the school’s academic programs are organized into flexible, grade group clusters that feature shared, collaborative learning spaces. A variety of learning environments are provided in each cluster to allow for the accommodation of different student learning styles. Realizing the importance of giving both schools their own character, each has a distinct exterior palette reflecting their community.

Upon entrance to the schools, students are greeted by school staff in the lobby and adjacent. Administration Lobby in a secure vestibule. The main lobby is a nexus of the Gymnasium, Cafetorium, and a colorful seating and display zone called the Wonder Wall. Daylight streams from clerestory windows to these connected spaces, creating a wonderful gathering space for students during the day and the community after hours. The Media Center and Music Rooms are adjacent to their own courtyards and a main stair separates these public spaces with more private classroom spaces in the wing beyond. The grades are organized in clusters by age group. The youngest scholars (Pre-K, K, and lower elementary) are on the lowest level while the upper elementary and middle school scholars are on the second floor. Science, art, and technology labs anchor the central corridor connections, accessible to all. Though the floor plans are identical, the two schools have completely different community partnership programs within and unique sites outside. Utilizing the sites as teaching tools, the schools are equipped with student vegetable and herb gardens, rainwater cisterns, outdoor classrooms, rooftop solar labs, and vegetative roofs that further push innovation while intertwining sustainable concepts in education – staying true to their mission to nurture, engage, and empower the whole child for life-long excellence.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

“Special recognition should be brought to two aspects of this project. First, the use of natural daylighting to create a vibrant and conducive environment for learning. The incorporation used thoughtful design consideration and effectively transforms the learning environment promoting a successful learning outcome. Second, for creating a protype of a net-zero educational facility which takes a holistic approach integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of the design and operation. This prototype should serve as a beacon of innovation, inspiring other educational institutions to adopt similar practices.” –Cristin Peacock

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Exterior Entry of Holabird Academy © Martice Tucker
2. Exterior Entry of Holabird Academy © Martice Tucker
3. The Wonder Wall © Martice Tucker
4. Exterior Entry of Graceland Park - O'Donnell Heights ES/MS © Martice Tucker
5. Cafetorium with Borrowed Daylight © Martice Tucker
6. Solar Lab © Martice Tucker
7. Collaborative Cluster © Martice Tucker
8. Empowering Students through Play and Project-Based Learning © Martice Tucker