K-12 Experience - LS3P

DESIGNFORLEARNING

ABOUT LS3P LS3P is a multidisciplinary firm offering architecture, interiors, and planning services to a wide variety of clients nationwide. With 96 years of school design experience (including our Boney Architects heritage dating back to 1922) and our work on over 2,000 school facilities, we feel quite fortunate to have served school districts across the Southeast.

We have a passion for creating leading-edge learning environments and have done an extensive amount of research into the future of education. Our expertise includes the design of flexible and diverse learning spaces which support the full integration of technology. We believe that better spaces support innovative teaching and engaged learning.

LS3P is committed to bringing state-of-the-art design, technology, and expertise of a strong regional firm closer to our clients on a local level. With a staff of over 340 employees, we have the resources to offer total design capabilities from site selection to occupancy, yet we are small enough to give personal attention to each client.

As trusted advisors to you, we forge enduring connections by bringing new levels of thought, insight and inspiration to the process of design and architecture, with proven results. At our core, we are a design firm, dedicated to contributing our best to you, your projects, and our community, with integrity and passion.

WANDO CENTER FOR ADVANCED STUDIES

The goal of Wando’s Center for Advance Studies is to bridge the gap between high school and college, providing technical skills and training beyond the high school level.

This new career and technical school is located on a 5-acre tract in front of the existing Wando High School campus, allowing both schools to share parking and transportation infrastructure.

The 3-story, 125,000 SF academic building is primarily a vocational facility accommodating 600 students. The academy features administration areas, science and computer labs, abundant classroom spaces for programs in cosmetology, biomedical science, film, multimedia and visual arts, childcare, health science engineering, horticulture, public safety, and EMS technology. Additional facilities include a 6,100 SF automotive technology building, a greenhouse, and an equipment storage building.

This project is designed to LEED® Silver specifications.

This Institute of Innovation is a place where students, parents, teachers, and academic support personnel can come together, and serves as an interactive hub offering resources to the entire community. The vision for the facility is a multigenerational “fishbowl of learning” that creates educational spaces which are visible and active to encourage engagement and collaboration. In keeping with the vision of being a real “community resource”, a partnership with the Richland Library was cultivated and this became home to their Sandhill branch with a shared auditorium on the second level.

The building features a unique, 2-story student learning lab. The curriculum is focused on advanced STEM and vocational programs.

The school’s initial programs are Apple App Development, ComputerAided Design and Manufacturing, Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Managerial Accounting and Finance, Next Energy and Fuel Cell Engineering and Entrepreneurship through Mobile and Non-Traditional Food and Service. The flexible spaces are adaptable to changing programs, multiple teaching methods and varying group sizes. Various sized break-out areas/classrooms and collaboration rooms are available for student-based projects. Students will be afforded an opportunity to take college level and dual credit courses, as well as access to various certifications or credentials which employers value greatly.

Richland Two Institute of Innovation

WEST CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL

The project is an onsite replacement of a high school facility and demolition of the existing high school facility. The new facility on Senior Drive campus will accommodate 2500 students and replace the current sprawl of 15 buildings — the oldest dating back to 1964. The school will provide 125-classrooms with a new cafeteria/child nutrition, general classrooms, science classrooms, instrumental music spaces, vocal music spaces, theater arts, visual arts, career and technical Education, JROTC, administration, student services, staff support, media center, a natatorium with a 25 meter, 8-lane pool and physical education/athletics spaces and amenities.

LS3P hosted community outreach and engagement events to provide a platform for participants to share community aspirations for the new high school and to review design concepts. The design will provide a contemporary, technically-advanced building that is deferential to the context and rich history of the community and honor its legacy.

LS3P is teamed with Cain West Rash Architects of Kingsport, TN as K-12 design experts for Sullivan County Schools new consolidated high school. This project is to consolidate three existing high schools into one high school with a focus on Career Technology Education with operational efficiencies and 21st century learning environments for advanced program opportunities.

This programming effort involved numerous meetings with the Director of Schools, CTE program director and the facilities director.

Additionally, the LS3P/CRW team held numerous input meetings with students at each high school and teachers. The excitement, response and vision of the groups helped to define the programmatic goals for the new high school.

The new Sullivan High School will be designed for 1,700 students with a core of 1,850 at approximately 290,093 SF on a 112 acre site. The design is focused on 21st century learning concepts with areas for collaboration, flexible study spaces and dispersed dining components that give students more opportunities for group gathering than in traditional classroom settings.

The overall design layout for the school focuses on integrating typical career & technology courses will other core academic classes to mix different students and promote collaboration between trades.

The high school will open its doors to innovation and creativity showcasing 4,000 SF of robotics/architecture/engineering labs as you enter the building.

WEST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

The master plan for the Aiken High School campus hinged upon a phased approach to replace existing campus facilities as funding allowed.

LS3P worked closely with the Aiken County School District to allow the school to remain operational during phased demolition and construction, with detailed plans to minimize disruptions for student and staff while maintaining the highest safety standards.

The project included the following phases: •

Phase 1: New two-story science classroom building and a singlestory field house, completed in 2013

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Phase 2A: New administration, general classrooms, media center, student dining/food service and business classrooms/labs, completed in 2017

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Phase 2B: New auxiliary gym and new spaces for art, sewing and child care, culinary, ROTC, band and chorus programs, completed in 2018

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Phase 2C: Renovation of existing gym completed in 2019

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Phase 2D: New auditorium is currently in initial design phases

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Phase 2E: Vocational facilities and master planned for future construction

AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL

In 2004, LS3P performed an interior renovation for the Enoree Career Center converted an existing 58,000 SF facility into a modern, efficient space with up-to-date technology for career-oriented courses. The project was broken into three phases to allow the school to stay operational during the entire construction process. The center serves students from Berea, Carolina, Travelers Rest, and Wade Hampton High Schools.

To compliment the renovation of the existing school and to extend the school’s programming to meet their goals, a new 14,600 SF technology lab addition, to be complete in 2018, provides stateof-the-art training spaces for machine tool, welding, and culinary arts programs at Enoree Career Center. The building also houses a flexible multi-functional space for presentations and meetings. The economical pre-engineered metal building integrates brick veneer and insulated metal panels as well as a new perforated metal screen which unites the facade and presents an attractive face to the community.

The facility not only fulfills the complex programmatic and technological requirements in a condensed, efficient floor plan, but also creates a design that improves on the existing campus aesthetic and reflects the Career Center’s focus on 21st Century programs.

ENOREE CAREER CENTER RENOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGY LAB ADDITION

CABARRUS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

The new 264,000 SF high school for Cabarrus County Schools is adjacent to the existing Harold E. Winkler Middle School and Weddington Hills Elementary School. The school is designed for an initial capacity of 1,600 students with a core capacity of 1,850 students. The two-story main commons area serves as the central organizing hub that connects the three building areas via the open cafeteria, dining, and media center. The three-story academic building features instructional classrooms grouped together by similarity for shared resources. The new high school incorporates 21st century educational models with strategically dispersed collaborative learning areas, flexible classrooms, and flexible teaching stations. This new educational model aims to achieve a higher utilization rate through appropriate design principles.

The athletic site development includes a 4,000 seat football stadium, a baseball stadium, a softball stadium, a performance field, three practice fields, one band field, and six tennis courts. The school is expected to be completed in Fall 2019.

The new school will be constructed utilizing three distinct building systems: precast concrete for the main academic building, structural steel for the administration portion, and load bearing masonry for the gymnasium and auditorium portions.

This renovation of an old Coke Bottling Plant building transforms a vacant space into a state-of-the-art facility for career and technology programs, offering a new model of education to area high school students. The design provides space for career programs such as culinary arts, electrical systems engineering, biopharmaceutical technology, health sciences, cosmetology, and business information technology. Support spaces include administrative offices, classrooms, labs, and a student commons area.

The program is centered around a dynamic bright orange wall that slices through the original building, adding a sense of vitality and movement beneath the new light wells which fill the space with daylight.

This project is an innovative collaboration between Wake County Public Schools and Wake Technical Community College. The school system inhabits the facility during the day and Wake Tech utilizes the facilities for technical programs during the evening.

VERNON MALONE COLLEGE & CAREER ACADEMY

WHITEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATIONS & ADDITIONS

Whiteville City Schools is renovating and expanding to their existing High School campus to provide 21st century learning environments and to increase capacity to 850 students.

With a focus on safety, the design brings connectivity to many of the existing structures on campus. The project includes one new 72,240 SF building with 28 new classrooms, computer labs, administration, guidance, kitchen, dining, band, chorus, drama, dance, media center and support spaces. Campus improvements include new parking lots, a new service drive for buses, and covered canopies to connect the new and renovated buildings. Lastly, the project includes the demolition of their existing fine arts building, existing two-story academic classroom building, existing administration building, and existing cafeteria. Throughout the design and construction process, the school district will preserve Whiteville High School’s historic value and community significance which has long been a source of community pride. The buildings on the historic 19.29 acre campus date back to 1922, with several buildings such as Bowers Auditorium and the gymnasium which are widely used by the community for performances and meetings.

Future renovations and additions to the campus are a part of Whiteville City Schools’ phased master plan. LS3P provided preliminary site concept sketches, square footage totals, and a cost estimate for the proposed Phase II program. Phase II includes a new auxiliary gym and lockers, renovations to the existing media center and vocational building, and new vocational spaces.

CLOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

The new Clover Middle School replaces a former middle school that will be repurposed as a 9th grade academy. The new 178,082 SF facility serves grades 6-8 with a core capacity for 900 with expansion for 1200 students. The school is sited on a 125-acre parcel fronting Highway 55 and Barrett Road. Campus amenities include an 8-lane track, football field, baseball and softball fields, practice fields, outdoor basketball courts, fieldhouse and athletic bleachers.

The school design organizes each grade level into individual “houses.” Each contains 10 general classrooms, 3 science labs, and a computer lab. Additional features include a 1,300-seat gymnasium, an auxiliary gym for PE and other functions, a large dining area, and an adjoining multipurpose room with stage. The media center is accessible from major public circulation spaces. Natural daylighting fills the building’s 2-story vestibule and main corridor.

Key design features are flexible learning spaces for each grade level, the use of wireless internet throughout with next generation instruction equipment. STEM education is the focus of the school’s project based, experiential learning. Teaching areas and informal collaboration space support multiple class interaction, exploration and even robotics competitions. Colorful palettes and environmental graphic elements such as DNA helix floor patterns and science, math, literature and fine arts vocabulary on walls reinforce learning.

21ST CENTURY DESIGN LOGO DESIGN Pleasant Knoll Middle School is designed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Ft. Mill, SC community. The site is adjacent and shares a bus drive with Pleasant Knoll Elementary School. The school is designed to accommodate 1000 students. Great efforts were made to preserve wetlands which bisect the center of the site. The result is a pedestrian bridge which connects the academic campus to the athletic campus.

This bridge will be utilized for environmental education as well as pedestrian movement to athletic events.

The design of Pleasant Knoll Middle School is inspired by art, using a Mondrian painting and a watercolor of “The Graduate” a local Ft. Mill iconic sculpture which the District uses as a part of its logo. The irregular gridded nature of a Mondrian painting is used with grade specific color to help define the architecture both on the interior and exterior. The plan is organized with excellent sightlines for maximum supervision utilizing minimal administrative staff. A 3-story student wing houses one grade per floor and a walk out gymnasium helps to transition down to the outdoor classroom at the pedestrian bridge.

The school incorporates many 21st Century Initiatives including: Transparency; Flexibility; Break-out learning spaces; Indoor / outdoor relationships; Furnishings supporting flexibility; Technology immersion; Natural light / daylighting; Energy efficiency; and Sustainability.

PLEASANT KNOLL MIDDLE SCHOOL

SULLIVAN EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL

The new 89,457 SF middle school will serve 700 students (core of 800) and be designed to reflect 21st learning concepts of flexibility, safety, sustainability, technology, collaboration, and more. The main academic wing is very efficient with a double-loaded corridor for typical academic courses and shared science labs per grade level. Sixth grade is on the first floor and 7th and 8th grades share the second floor. On the second floor features a ‘discovery porch’ where students can combine multiple classes or grade levels to study outdoors. Project Lead the Way is 1,000 SF lab connecting directly to the outdoor porch area for flexible project-based work activities. There is an exploratory lab at 1,000 SF open to all grade levels. It is designed for multiple classes to gather and collaborate across subjects and grade levels as needed.

The middle school also features a learning commons area with large open windows overlooking the mountains, flexible furniture solutions, large and small collaborative rooms, and study alcoves.

As part of the overall efficient design layout, the gym and dining areas have a large operable wall between them to open up for certain events when more space is needed. There is not a permanent stage or auditorium programmed, but space within dining can accommodate a temporary platform to be set up for performances.

STANLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

This 135,065 sf middle school is an onsite replacement located on the existing Campus and is designed for 800 students in grades 6-8 with the potential to expand to 1,000 students. The main spine of the building is the organizing element that links the classroom wings with the core function spaces located in the center. The spine isl a tall volume of space allowing natural, diffused light into the corridor. The media center and cafeteria are located at the center of the school.

The floor plan provides separation of grades, each grade having dedicated hallways and independent restrooms. The 6th grade is on the main level while 7th and 8th grades are on the second level. Ideal sight lines provide for building security control. The gymnasium can function independently from the main building for after-hour and community events. Once students move into the new school, the old building will be demolished to allow for construction of the athletic fields.

NORTH RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This new elementary school facility for a well-established neighborhood consolidated programs which were previously scattered across multiple campus buildings. The outdated facilities were challenging to navigate and separated various educational functions in disparate locations; replacing the buildings with a unified design prepared the beloved campus for a new generation of use.

The new 130,000 SF design accommodates 750 students with teaching spaces grouped by grade levels. Students enter a welcoming open lobby which branches off into classroom and resource spaces. The design merged community input with county standards for site-specific strategies, resulting in better architectural integration with the neighborhood, improved traffic flow and stormwater management, preservation of a mature grove of campus trees, and better wayfinding and security.

This design-build project with Thompson Turner Construction is a new PreK-5th grade, 747 student elementary school for the district. The project is located in an area of the district to relieve overcrowding at nearby elementary schools. The 26 acre site has some unique challenges, including wetlands that necessitate a compact footprint and 2-story solution to accommodate the 123,000 SF program.

Creating flexible, 21st century learning environment, the grade levels are grouped in “neighborhoods” that feature a central “learning hub” area that is shared by a group of 5 to 6 classrooms. Each “neighborhood” also includes a collaboration room for small group projects and a large storage room.

Centralized functions down the center of the building include the “Info Center” (media center), a commons area for dining with a stage / performance space and music and PE rooms.

The exterior design was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s work that was often defined by its environment. Nestled into a tree buffered site between wetlands, the school opens onto a natural outdoor learning lab. The facade is a combination of stone and brick. Colored glass accents on the main entry tower reflect the “International Boulevard” community that the school serves.

JACKSON CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

DIAMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The new Diamond Elementary School Ft. Stewart is a Design/Bid/Build project replacing the existing Diamond Elementary School. The elementary school is a Pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade school and provide all necessary academic and support spaces for an estimated 700 students and 78 teachers and additional support staff.

The design of Diamond Elementary School expresses a contemporary, fun, inviting image.

The 122,077 SF building will be a fully accessible two level school with higher grade Learning Studios located on the second floor. Programming includes 9 Neighborhoods with 35 Learning Studios and associated Academic Support spaces, as well as Circulation and School-as-Teaching-Tool opportunities.

The project incorporates many 21st Century School Initiatives outlined by Department of Defense Education Activity 21st Century Education Facilities Specifications (EdSpec) including: Transparency; Flexibility; Break-out learning spaces; Performance based learning; Indoor / outdoor relationships; Furnishings supporting flexibility; Technology immersion; Natural light / daylighting; Energy efficiency; and Sustainability.

FOREST LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

NASA BASED EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN ONSITE REPLACEMENT This new 152,000 SF onsite replacement school will serve 747 students in grades pre-K through 5. The flexible learning environment will accommodate both the NASA Explorer and the Elementary Learning Collaborative (ELS) magnet programs, and the two-story building will be nestled into the site’s natural topography to complement the scale of the surrounding residential area. The façade blends red brick and a dark grey brick base with metal panels to break up the massing, while contemporary design elements reflect the 21st century education going on inside.

The highly visible main entry at the upper level incorporates a secure entry vestibule for visitors and a separate access for students. The reception area opens onto a welcoming rotunda with NASA-inspired imagery, leading to NASA and Project Lead the Way labs, classrooms, integrated special needs classrooms, and collaboration spaces.

A guidance suite and art classroom are centrally located for easy access, opening out onto a rooftop patio above the media center with central courtyard below. The lower level features classrooms and core learning areas, and connects to the upper level with a large, colorful, and open ramp that terminates at the media center. A large dining commons area which features floor patterns and ceiling clouds recalling celestial imagery opens into a performance space. The full-sized gymnasium is also located on the lower level.

The phased construction will begin with the demolition of the adjacent District office and gymnasium, then construction of the new facility will begin. The demolition of the existing school will provide space for new parking and drives for car and bus entries, as well as green space for play fields.

This new 80,000 SF elementary school for New Hanover County Schools accommodates 595 students. The prototype design, successfully implemented at Porter’s Neck Elementary School, offers an economical, functional floor plan and building systems. The project included demolition of an outdated elementary school and careful planning to adapt the plan to existing context and site features. The loadbearing masonry structure and metal stud wall framing help to reduce building costs, and the infrastructure is designed for future expansion.

The new school features single-story administration and assembly spaces, and a two-story classroom wing. A welcoming entry lobby celebrates the school’s owl mascot with a canopy of leaves, and the interior color palette is tailored to the K-5 environment.

COLLEGE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BOLDEN ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

Bolden Elementary/Middle School services the families living at the Marine Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina in the Laurel Bay Military Community.

The design for a 450-student school replaced two outdated existing facilities for students in grades 3-8, providing an educational program which is based around DoDEA’s 21st Century Education Facilities criteria. The design is organized with smaller-scale learning neighborhoods, with various sizes of academic spaces to support all types of the curriculum. With collaboration space based in the middle of the neighborhoods and classrooms surrounding the hub for collaborative instruction, group learning spaces for smaller-scale project work, and smaller spaces for one-to-one work. To support the learning hubs the school includes a cafetorium; gym; specialist rooms; extracurricular spaces - art room, music/band rooms; administrative offices; counseling areas; health offices; and other required areas for a fully functioning elementary/middle school.

The new school establishes flexible learning spaces, technology integration, using the building as a learning tool, and environments to support performance-based learning. The two story building’s envelope, mechanical system, and lighting are all designed to meet the strict energy savings guidelines of the EPACT 2005 and meet LEED Silver criteria.

GROVES K-12 SCHOOL

This new K-12 school for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System consolidates four existing schools: an elementary, middle, high, school and a Career, Agricultural, and Technical Education (CATE) program. The new facility will accommodate 2,400 students in 435,000 SF, and is designed to serve as a hub of activity and a community icon for Garden City. The layout facilitates separation of grade levels while aligning the program to accommodate site constraints. Program spaces in the CATE building will include training spaces for business, culinary arts, aircraft maintenance, and maritime logistics.

The design takes its cues from historic Savannah’s built environment. The site currently houses the existing high school and CATE building; once construction is complete, those programs will relocate to the new facility and the original buildings will be demolished to make room for new athletic fields. The site layout for the 43 acre campus includes an extremely detailed safety and circulation plan for construction activities.

RIDGE SPRING -MONETTA K-12 SCHOOL

LS3P was enlisted to design a multi-phase addition/renovation to an existing middle school to create a 950-stuent, K-12 school for this community. Numerous visioning sessions were held with students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community to enlist feedback on their vision for this new comprehensive school.

The project is designed to be constructed over various phases. Once the high school is added on the existing middle school building, the old high school on the same site will be demolished. This will allow for new parking and re-working their athletic fields. The next phase will involve the elementary school addition where students from the existing elementary school will be relocated.

The design for this K-12 project was focused on creating a school where elementary students are separated from 6-12th grades, yet are able to share kitchen facilities and some administrative functions. The new facade along Trojan Road will provide a real identity to this community school.

MOVEMENT SCHOOL Before

Once a big-box anchor store, this high-performance charter school for grades K-2 transformed a vacant retail space into a joyful, engaging learning environment. Overarching design goals included strengthening the student learning experience and engaging the community. To that end, a complete renovation of the vacant and dilapidated space has already helped to revitalize its West Charlotte neighborhood. Owned by a foundation of parent company Movement Mortgage, the school supports education, community improvements, and economic mobility for underserved children through world-class academics, character development, and individual instruction. Additional grades will be added each year through the eighth grade.

A bold new entry and cantilevered canopy welcome the community reflect the school’s identity. Site enhancements included a new parking configuration, landscaped tree islands, and playground.

Inside, Movement School’s industrial vibe provides a direct connection with the Movement Mortgage culture. The space utilizes vibrant colors, warm materials, and interior wall graphics that appeal to children and staff. Skylights and circular glass windows allow natural light into the classrooms, and link the energetic environment of the classroom with the active corridors.

The program includes classrooms, auditorium/gymnasium, media center, library, cafeteria, conference rooms, and administrative offices.

The LS3P Vision In our commitment to the Southeast, we create architecture that enriches community through a culture of design excellence, expertise, innovation, and collaborative engagement.

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