PORTLEDGE SCHOOL Campus Master Plan
1010 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007 FINAL DRAFT - JUNE 20, 2017
www.bowiegridley.com
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Executive Summary
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Planning Goals and Assumptions
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Existing Campus Plan - Existing Buildings and Site Features
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Existing Campus Plan - Site Constraints and Traffic Issues
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Campus Master Plan
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Proposed New Facility Program Summary
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Appendix
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Preliminary Planning Example - A
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Preliminary Planning Example - B
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Preliminary Planning Example - C
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Executive Summary In the spring of 2017 Portledge School engaged Bowie Gridley Architects to continue the School’s earlier Master Planning effort which had culminated in the construction of the new Commons building. Portledge was now ready to initiate a second planning phase to investigate other facilities and campus needs. Bowie Gridley Architects performed observations of all existing buildings and assembled a tabular inventory of academic, athletic, and support spaces. To further strengthen their understanding of current curricula, future needs, and Portledge culture, Bowie Gridley conducted a series of on-site interviews with a broad range of Portledge constituencies including: members of the Board of Trustees; administrators; faculty; staff; students; and parents.
• Multiple athletics program configurations were considered including additions to the existing Wellington Gym. However, this proved problematic due to zoning setback requirements. Consensus coalesced around a new and appropriately scaled facility consisting of: a single competition gym with spectator seating; squash courts; a Wellness Center; and a variety of support spaces. • Several building sites and roadway access options were considered for the new athletics facility. The planning process considered the impact of a new building on existing playing fields, vehicular access, campuswide pedestrian circulation, and natural topography. Ultimately, the southwest corner of the central campus open space was selected.
Early analysis and discussion identified a range of needs and issues: • Upper School classroom and support space needs • Lower School performance/activity space limitations • Athletic facilities needs and team scheduling issues • Potential for on-campus housing • Roadway and traffic safety concerns
• Lower School Physical Education Addition. Adding this space to the Lower School will allow the current multipurpose room to be renovated and converted into an assembly and performance space. The Lower School, equipped with both a PE and performance space, will be able to schedule and conduct simultaneous indoor physical education activities and student performances.
While a consensus formed around the above as issues to be addressed in the future, it was determined that the following become the focus of the current phase of Master Planning:
• Roadway and Traffic Safety Improvements. Beginning with the Lower School, a traffic circle is proposed to eliminate the “bottleneck” created by vehicles entering campus and turning into the Lower School parking lot. From this new traffic circle, an additional roadway running along the south edge of the playing fields directs traffic to the new gymnasium. This same road then runs along the west campus edge to divert visitors and buses away from the academic core to an expanded parking facility to the north of the classroom buildings. Finally, the road separating the Upper School and Science building from Wellington Gym and the Middle School will be eliminated and replaced with a turn-around for busses, deliveries, etc.
• New Athletic Facility. This new facility will double the basketball court capacity, increase the number of practices and competitions possible on campus, and be designed to current standards. • The new athletic facility would ideally be situated in a manner which creates a synergy with playing fields and other outdoor sports activities. Further, the ideal site can relieve vehicular traffic and visitor pressure on the core academic campus. 4
Portledge School
Master Plan
Planning Goals and Assumptions New Athletic and Wellness Facility • “Core Athletics Program” o Regulation basketball court (84’ x 50’) with safe run-off zones o Spectator seating for approximately 200 o Ample and accessible Team, Visitor, Coaches, and Official’s Locker Rooms o Administrative offices o Public area with Athletic Hall of Fame o Ample storage and support facilities • “Special Athletics Program” o Three Squash Courts o Spectator seating for approximately 60 o Can be “locked-off” from balance of facility with separate entrance • Wellness Center o Wellness Classroom and Learning Kitchen o Nutritional Garden and Greenhouse • Exterior Spaces o Viewing Terrace overlooks playing field o Entry Plaza with landscape features, seating, chess benches Lower School • Physical Education Addition o Regulation basketball court (84’ x 50’) with safe run-off zones o Separate entrance o Administrative Office o Support spaces Roadway and Traffic Planning • Increase traffic safety and convenience at Lower School parking • Create a more pedestrian friendly Upper and Middle School campus • Plan a new road to the new Athletic Facility and provide perimeter access to the Academic Core • Increase parking
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Existing Campus Plan Existing Buildings and Site Features
Headmaster’s Residence
Maintenance Buildings
Tennis Courts
Playing Fields
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Upper School
Commons
Parking
Playing Fields
Du
ond ck P
Roa
Lower School
Wellington Gym Middle School
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Existing Campus Plan Site Constraints and Traffic Issues
Headmaster’s Residence
Maintenance Buildings
“Swale”
Playing Fields
200’ Setback
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Upper School Limited Parking
Commons
Playing Fields Traffic Conflict Point
Du
ond ck P
Roa
Lower School
Bisecting Roadway Wellington Gym Middle School
Campus Entrance
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Campus Master Plan Two Regulation Playing Fields 200’ x 330’ New Athletic Facility
Extensive Pedestrian Network
Expanded Tennis Facility 3 Additional Courts
Lower School PE Addition
nd ck Po
Road
Enlarged Parking Lot ±28 Spaces
Du
New Drop-off and Delivery Spur
Campus Entrance
New Traffic Circle
New Roadway
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Road Removed Campus Quad Created
Proposed New Facility Program Summary New Athletic Facility Gymnasium
Lower School PE Addition 9,650 nsf
Extended 1 court gym
9,250 nsf
7,280 nsf
PE Space Regulation Basketball Court
400 nsf
Equip Storage
Squash Courts (3)
1,800 nsf
Team/Locker Rooms
4,500 nsf
US and MS Boys and Girls LR (2 @ 1550)
3,100 nsf
Visiting Team LR (2 @ 225)
450 nsf
Male and Female Coaches LR (2 @ 325)
650 nsf
Officials LR
100 nsf
Training Room
200 nsf
Athletic Administrative
675 nsf
AD Office
175 nsf
Asst AD Office
150 nsf
Conference Room
150 nsf
PE Office
200 nsf
Miscellaneous / Support
800 nsf
Lobby PE Office Equipment Storage
Total Program Area
8,080 nsf
Net to Gross Multiplier
1.2 nsf
Total Building Area
9,696 gsf
1,250 nsf
Miscellaneous / Support Lobby
700 nsf
Public Restroom Female
200 nsf
Laundry
300 nsf
Janitorial
50 nsf
1,720 nsf
Miscellaneous Program Areas Nutritional Garden/Greenhouse
610 nsf
Wellness Area
610 nsf
Health and Wellness Classroom
500 nsf
Total Program Area
19,595 nsf
Net to Gross Multiplier
1.3 nsf
Total Building Area
25,474 gsf 9
Portledge School
Master Plan
Appendix: Preliminary Planning Examples The following preliminary planning studies are examples which represent the range of inquiry pursued during the master planning process. This process is one of discovery, with initial goals often changing before consensus is reached. Each iteration examined a wide-ranging inventory of planning issues, from new campus entrance configurations to alternative building sites. While several of these studies achieved the successful realization of individual goals or needs, none were as successful in reflecting the complete vision for Portledge School as the selected Master Plan.
12 Preliminary Planning Example - A 13 Preliminary Planning Example - B 14 Preliminary Planning Example - C
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Preliminary Planning Example A Lower School Addition
New Athletic Facility
Key Features •
• •
Relatively flat building site with adjacent utilities for New Athletic Facility Visitor traffic still funneled through campus core Little improvement to pedestrian conditions
Bisecting Roadway
New Traffic Circle
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Preliminary Planning Example B Lower School Addition
New Athletic Facility
Key Features •
•
•
New Athletic Facility building site deflects Visitor traffic from campus core Significant topographic challenges related to roadway design Existing roadway continues to bisect primary academic buildings
Zone of Topography
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Portledge School
Master Plan
Preliminary Planning Example C New Athletic Facility
New Athletic Facility
Key Features •
•
•
Roadways and Parking Unchanged
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Portledge School
Master Plan
2nd entrance added for New Athletic Facility and Lower School traffic New Gym building site in “Swale” avoids occupying existing playing fields or other open space Potential for protracted regulatory process