Educational Design
Middle Schools
Stratus is improving student outcomes through design
Our exceptional experience in educational facilities planning and design provides our team with in-depth expertise aligning developmental objectives, safety concerns and the physical design of school facilities.
To date, this experience comprises well over one billion square feet of educational facility construction, including programming, campus planning, prototype development and interior design services, as well as traditional architectural services, historic rehabilitation and construction administration.
Our state-of-the-art facilities incorporate innovative and flexible spaces that facilitate teaching and enhance the student learning experience.
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WESTRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Orlando, FL
Westridge Middle School was specifically designed to address the student performance decline associated with the “transition” into middle schools. Based on research from Ford Foundation and John Hopkins University, middle school facility design can help to reduce the “transition trauma.” The school is designed around “Nested Learning Communities” (NLCs) which foster a special sense of safety to the new entering class and smooth the transition disruption to student performance.
Student Stations: 1,220
Size: 171,955 SF
Green Globes® Certified, Green Building Initiative 21st Century School
FEFPA Architectural Showcase, Award of Merit, Best Middle School
BRICKELL WORLD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Miami, FL
This new school facility is the first of its kind in more than one way, a new highly efficient and cost effective 21st Century public school in Miami-Dade County. The mixed-use facility combines integrated housing for teachers with a multi-story middle school (grades 6-8) provides a unique opportunity to address the need for both affordable housing and primary education in Miami’s Brickell/Downtown neighborhood. The new school design aims to foster collaboration, curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in a technology laden environment to reinforce the world-class curriculum for the leaders of tomorrow.
Student Stations: 610
Workforce Housing: 10 1-Bedroom Units
Size: 88,000 SF
HERBERT A. AMMONS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Student Stations: 1,410 Size: 116,000 SF Miami, FL
Originally located in a portable temporary campus, Herbert A. Ammons Middle School has been an academically high performing school since its inception. As such, the school has become a growth magnet and is in high demand by parents all over South Dade where enrollment has swelled to over 1,100 students and has been operating in an overStations mode for many years. In order to support the school demand in such a compact site, Stratus has been retained to provide design services for the new middle school building that will replace the existing 19 portables.
21st Century School
DOWNTOWN DORAL UPPER ACADEMY
Miami, FL
The success of the Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School sparked the need for expansion of the program to include a new, 21st century Charter Middle-High School. The new school comprises a 100,000 SF, multi-story middle-high school (grades 6-12) incorporating the latest features in flexible learning spaces, technology, and security in a safe, environmentally friendly school.
Student Stations: 1,200 Size: 110,000 SF
21st Century School
BELEN JESUIT
PREPARATORY
SCHOOL
Miami, FL
The new state-of-the-art, 8,000 square foot Innovation Center offers a mix between traditional classroom, maker space, and science fiction lab. The Center includes spaces specifically designed for each state of creation: inspiration, experimentation, and synthesis. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Program gives students access to a large selection of tools varying from 3D printers and laser cutters to powerful computers with professional design software. In addition, the Robotics teams use the Innovation Center as their home base of operation and students are also able to experience expanded extracurricular activities.
Student Stations: 50
Size: 8,000 SF
21st Century School
BAUMHOLDER
MIDDLE-HIGH
Baumholder, Germany
SCHOOL
Stratus was commissioned to provide architectural services for designing a new middle-high school to replace the existing Baumholder Middle-High School with one that is consistent with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) 21st Century Education Facilities Specifications. The new single building facility’s design incorporates the latest thinking and development of 21st-century learning environments and curriculum advancement.
Student Stations: 450 Size: 148,000 SF
21st Century School
BOCA RATON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton Middle School is a comprehensive phased replacement of the existing school originally built in the 1950s. The school design is composed of a twostory classroom building, which contains all classrooms, labs and resource rooms arranged in “houses.” Each “house” is arranged to service a grade level population (6th, 7th, and 8th grade) and contains its own mini-administration suite. The assembly spaces and fine arts area are located in an adjacent building across a landscaped courtyard, which serves as a central organizing space from which administration can supervise all student movement and oversee the main access points of the school using minimal staff.
Student Stations: 1,470 Size:197,462 SF
CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Boynton Beach, FL
Stratus provided programming and educational specifications, master planning, and traditional A/E services for this phased replacement prototype middle school. The site is a 40-acre parcel that was master planned to maintain the existing school in operation while the new school was built. In addition, the site is shared with an existing central maintenance facility and District ITV broadcast station. All traffic was carefully planned after comprehensive facility and feasibility studies to minimize congestion while maximizing the utilization of open space.
Student Stations: 1,506 Size: 195,643 SF
GLADES MIDDLE SCHOOL
Miramar, FL
This prototype middle school is composed of three buildings organized around a central courtyard. The two academic buildings contain all of the general classrooms, the skills, health, consumer science, business and science labs, the administration suite and the media center. The house concept within the school allows for each grade level to be designated its own area of the building. Common areas are provided at the main building’s center for convenient access by students and teachers and to allow for the greatest amount of natural light exposure for the general classrooms.
Student Stations: 2,100
Size: 234,393 SF
American
Real Estate & Construction Review, Top Project in Florida Award
Real Estate & Construction Review, Building of America Award
FEFPA Architectural Showcase, Award of Merit, Best Middle School
School & University, Excellence in Educational Architecture
FALCON COVE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Weston, FL
Stratus provided architectural design services for the phased renovation and replacement project, which includes replacing portables with a new classroom building to accommodate essential educational program spaces for 1,056 student stations. Falcon Cove Middle School was originally constructed in 1999 and comprises two main buildings and 48 portable facilities, totaling approximately 235,726 SF. Over the past 18 years, the school has experienced continued growth, using relocatable units to meet the needs of the approximately 2,200 currently enrolled students.
Student Stations: 2,200
Size: 235,726 SF
PARKWAY
MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Parkway Middle School comprehensive replacement project is a concurrent phased replacement on a highly-restricted urban site shared with an elementary school. The complex project is being approached in three phases to maintain ongoing operations of the school facility while construction of the new facility takes place. The existing performing arts center and one newer classroom building, which is being re-roofed, are being integrated into the new school’s circulation patterns. An existing ESE classroom building is also being modified into a large covered shelter at the parent dropoff loop. The master plan provides for a highly secure school facility organized around a new central DaVinci Courtyard with an outdoor beamed amphitheater for performances.
Student Stations: 1,588
Size: 138,155 SF Fort Lauderdale, FL
TRADEWINDS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lake Worth, FL
The state-of-the-art prototype is a two-building design. The first building houses classrooms, administrative offices, and the media center. The second “assembly” building houses the gym, locker rooms, cafetorium, kitchen, stage, fine arts facilities and music rooms. The two components are sited around a central organizing space from which administration can supervise all student movement and oversee the main access point of the school using minimal staff. Designed in accordance with the recently developed “House Concept”, students are grouped into separate “houses” according to grade groupings or curriculum academies. Each house has a separate administrative suite with its own assistant principal, thereby increasing supervision and monitoring.
Student Stations: 1,500
Size: 195,643 SF
MIAMI COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL
Florida City, FL
The Miami Community Charter School is a 640 student middle and high school, unique because Stratus partnered with the charter school administration and staff to invent an educational process and curriculum. Through completely innovative programming, this state-of-the-art facility is being built at 60% of the cost and half the time of a comparable public school and will provide greater opportunities for learning. The school utilizes team teaching strategies involving 40-student learning studios, enabling more personalized student attention while reducing the gross area of the facility.
Student Stations: 640
Size: 35,332 SF
L.C. SWAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Greenacres, FL
LC Swain Middle School is a middle school designed for quick construction through the use of a tilt wall construction system and simple geometry. The compact design is composed of a two-story classroom building and an assembly building located across a landscaped courtyard, which serves as a central organizing space for the school. The assembly building can easily be used for after-hour school or community functions without opening the entire school to the public. This flexibility facilitated an inter-local agreement for the school’s ball fields, track and gymnasium to be used by the public after school hours while all classroom spaces remain secure.
Student Stations: 1,500
Size: 195,643 SF
The School District of Palm Beach County’s Facilities Foundation of Excellence Award, Outstanding New Construction Project Associated Builders & Contractors, Architect’s Award for Excellence in Construction Institutional, $15- $30 M Category
MILLENNIUM
MIDDLE SCHOOL
While the typical campus size for a South Florida elementary school is 15 acres and that of a middle school is 20, Stratus developed a plan to fit both on one 21-acre site, including playfields and amenities. This 1,500-student station prototype middle school is a twocomponent building. The first component houses classrooms, administrative offices, media centers, and classrooms for science and vocational studies. The second “assembly” component houses the gym, locker rooms, cafetorium, kitchen, stage, fine arts facilities and music rooms. The two components are sited around a central organizing space from which administration can supervise all student movement and oversee the main access point of the school using minimal staff.
Student Stations: 1,500
Size: 182,496 SF Tamarac, FL
CORAL SPRINGS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Coral Springs, FL
The Coral Springs Middle School Gymnasium Replacement project involves the re-use of the Glades Middle School Prototypical Gymnasium in order to accelerate the project’s delivery. The new gymnasium will replace an undersized facility which will remain to accommodate concurrent sports team practices. The new gymnasium facility includes a lobby, ticket booth, satellite concessions, a multipurpose room/practice gym, locker rooms, teacher planning and first aid offices, storage and a new chiller plant to accommodate the gymnasium.
Student Stations: 70
Size: 32,000 SF
IMMOKALEE
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Immokalee, FL
The School Board of Collier County was in need of additional classroom space for Immokalee Middle School. The scope of work consisted of a new two-story classroom building that included 16 classrooms, comprising 12 regular classrooms and four technology labs, a teacher planning area, an office and all associated support spaces, including toilet facilities, mechanical and electrical rooms, and data rooms on each floor.
Student Stations: 1,620
Size: 24,033 SF
KAISERSLAUTERN
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Kaiserslautern, Germany
Code 0-3 and Code 2 design efforts were performed for the Kaiserslautern Middle School project, part of the Vogelweh schools to be modernized and/or replaced. It was one of the first new full middle schools planned with the DoDEA 21st Century (21C) Educational Specifications. The campus will serve 820 students aggregated from the existing school with Landstuhl MS and Sembach MS students per the DoDEA Kaiserslautern Military Community – EIC Study.
Student Stations: 820 Size: 171,000 SF
21st Century School
44+
Years of Experience in Master Planning, Architecture & Interior Design
130+ Professionals
25+ LEED® Accredited Professionals
200+ Sustainable & LEED® Projects
500+
Schools including the “Safest in the World” DODEA 21st Century Schools
Ranked 3rd Largest Educational Design Firm in the S.E. - ENR
WHO IS STRATUS?
Stratus strives to create enduring designs that are iconic yet contextual, incorporate the latest in design thinking, are sustainable climatically, and stand the test of time aesthetically. We approach projects by identifying opportunities to create a sense of place, supporting sustainable development by understanding how a campus, city or place came to be and considering past and present development patterns, local needs for better communities, and economic obstacles and opportunities. Based on this philosophy, our team creates authentic environments specific to each community by providing design solutions for livable places with diverse populations, cultural amenities, and economic vitality.
Services
Architectural Design
Facility Planning
Strategic Site Planning
Sustainable Design
Historic Preservation
Program Management
Urban Design
Land Planning
Facility Master Planning
Zoning and Land Use
Development Regulations
Innovation in Master Planning
Design
“Real Urbanism”
Interior Design
Programming
Strategic Facilities Planning
Work Flow Analysis
Space Planning
Branding and Wayfinding
Lighting Design
FF & E Specification
Artwork Selection
SUSTAINABILITY
Design for sustainability is not always easy—it requires special motivation. Our experience with sustainable or high performance building design is not only advantageous to University operations, but also improves the health, safety and comfort of its students, staff and visitors. Stratus is committed to the incorporation of sustainable principles in our designs. Through the application of sustainable design tenets we are able to create facilities that provide highly-efficient operational systems, healthy environments for the occupants, and buildings that actually enhance the learning process. The firm has significant experience with regards to energy reduction initiatives for new and existing buildings, including the utilization of renewable energy systems. Although the challenges for LEED® certification can be significant, our expertise allow us to focus on those credits that have high programmatic value and/or high return on investment. With more than 200+ sustainable projects completed, in design or in construction for Green Globes, FGBC, International Green Certification Code (IGCC), Net-Zero Ready, and LEED® Certification at all levels, including Platinum, Gold, and Silver, Stratus is well-positioned to assist colleges and universities address the challenges posed by climate change.
Largest Green Architecture Firm by the South Florida Business Journal
Founding Member of the Green Building Council South Florida Chapter
Top Ten Green Design Firm in Florida by Engineering News-Record
Brickell World Middle School Stratus designed the new school facility as the first net-zero ready school (EUI<25) for the Miami-Dade Public School District. Mindful design principles incorporate passive design elements and low-energy equipment into the systems development of the new facility. The Harvard School of Health and Sustainable Energy & Water Conservation Principals are part of the sustainable approach.
Improving student outcomes through design.
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