Glen Echo Intermediate School

This project utilizes both classical and modern building techniques to negotiate a challenging topography, creating a school that bridges the natural world and urban landscape. Located on North High Street in Clintonville, Ohio, this school is poised at the summit of Glen Echo Ravine. The ordered brick façade greets the street while a series of glass curtain walls allows light and nature to penetrate into the large massing.

Massive piers constructed in the Roman style utilize modern techniques where needed to hold aloft modular classrooms and provide poche for mechanical services. Reinforcing the teaching pedagogy, each classroom stands as an individual unit with workspace for projects and an en-suite restroom. Rather than desks the students and teacher utilize custom adaptable seating for a more comfortable learning environment.

The classrooms are connected by a series of elevated catwalks that penetrate the piers and span interior gathering spaces. In addition to a gym and library, there are specialty classrooms for the arts, sciences, and music, all of which look out over the ravine.