"From the beginning of this project, the overall formal massing has consisted of a long, tubular bent bar being punctured by a smaller bar. "
Scattered throughout the school are social “islands”—visually delineated zones where students can sit between classes, work before or after school, and stop briefly to socialize. These break up the circulation space and allow for pause in the bustling corridors of the high school. Different levels of openness allow for each student to find their own emotional space, helping them find a comfortable spot in a large school.
The halls of this high school begin in a vast atrium, which connects the two program-rich ends of the school through open circulation and two monumental ramps. The first ramp spans from the entry level to the next level, and the second from this level to the open library overlooking the atrium. The ramps maintain the strong horizontal movement of the project while also creating sectional connections, transforming vertical circulation from an isolated walk up a concrete stair to a rich social and visual experience.
In high school, learning happens everywhere—not just in classrooms and labs, but also in the spaces between, from the rich interaction between fellow students, teachers, and the physical environment. In Connective Collisions, corridors are widened and expanded to catalyze this type of learning, encouraging the student to take full advantage of time spent outside of the classroom and transform it into a layered social and educational experience.