International High School Paterson, NJ High School Project of Distinction - New Construction L+C...

International High School

Paterson, NJHigh School

Project of Distinction - New ConstructionL+C Design Consultants

2009 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture


Main Exterior Image

Community:Core / Atrium

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To support a sense of community, a central atrium with proximity to communal areas such as the Cafeteria, Media Center, and Seminar Room, the Atrium provides for informal activity, assembly, and break-out instructional spaces.

The naturally illuminated 3-story sky-lit height with side wall stage-style lighting can be manipulated for small performances, exhibition of student work, and a variety of activities. Defining end walls can house future murals to reinforce the international program. Full height glazing along the communicating stair and internal windows permit unobstructed views to the exterior and a sense of connection. Instructional spaces are organized around the core to reduce the impact of adjacent highway and provide internal community function.

Community:Core / Atrium

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The Atrium, and the adjoining central circulation stair with its views out to the City and into the core, literally form the nexus of the academic central core.

The Atrium has its principal open gathering area at the second floor; group spaces, Cafeteria, and Administration offices face this area through glazed openings. Upper floor atrium areas support specialized instruction in labs and project-based rooms.

Activities in the Atrium and movement around and through the Atrium will encourage an interactive dynamic between students, fostering a sense of community.

Learning Environment: Media Center

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The Media Center, located at the most visible corner of the school, acts as a beacon to the urban neighborhood beyond. Two stories of welcoming space behind a wall of glass. In the evening the glowing interior is an uplifting sight, marking the new community school. The learning environment is supported by wireless and wired technology at the Media Center and throughout, and dedicated casual seating and group areas, as well as a full computer lab, are available to the school community. The Media Center can be accessed directly from an exterior lobby, and can be secured to serve the Paterson community as an after-hours resource. Other “public” areas such as the Auditorium and Gym have separate entrances, can be isolated from the classroom block, and secured for after-hours use.

Learning Environment: Auditorium

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The Auditorium is a multi-purpose theater with seating radiating from the stage; moveable curved seating and tables will seat up to 50 on stage. The layout and ability to configure for student led “General Assembly” and “Security Council” support the UN Model. Sound shells, risers, lighting and sound system allow for a variety of performance modes. Adjacent music suite and practice rooms are configured to accommodate a full performing arts program, and can function as a back stage wing for large or regional performances.

Physical Environment: Site

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To address a steeply sloped narrow site, the facility is linear; and distinct architectural forms define purpose. The four story central classroom block provides a major face to the city and creates a strong school identity. This block, flanked by the Gymnasium to the East and Auditorium to the West, is configured for maximum interior focus to encourage a sense of school community. Concentrated classroom space allows for maximum use of the site. All public functions have well marked at-grade access. Parking and service is situated beyond the landscaped areas. The building is zoned so that rising grade levels accommodate community functions, which can be independently accessed and secured, while upper floors house classrooms and labs for dedicated student use. Defined site areas accommodate a variety of functions, and the upper flag plaza clearly marks the school’s mission.

Physical Environment:Forms / Massing

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The functions of the architectural forms of the International High School are obvious by their massing. The size and roof treatment of the Gymnasium and the Auditorium identify their unique functions. The simple forms utilized, as well as the central saw-toothed roof windows of the central Atrium, complement and respect the local industrial buildings. The Academic core block is subtly hinged at a communicating stair at the Entry to respond to the geometry of Grand Street.

Planning:History / Context

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The project is located in a dense urban context; the City of Paterson has a unique history from Native American settlements to the birth of Industry. The site selected for the school was formerly occupied by a high rise housing project. Adjacent to the site, a massive mill building (circa 1881) sits at the edge of the Great Falls Historic District.A community-based planning process was developed by Paterson Public Schools as a strategy to draw upon the collective wisdom and advice of experts, administrators, educators, parents and students, as well as the facility planners and architects responsible for design, and a dedicated steering committee was thereby created to pursue the realization of an International Academy. The spirit of the UN guided the school’s mission statement in this process.

Planning Process:Community

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The Paterson Public School District sought to create small high schools to foster greater student achievement and support all aspects of student learning and success. The International High School, based on an academy model, celebrates diversity and promotes civic responsibility and global awareness. The spirit and organization of the United Nations informs the program, and advanced technology supports students in forging links to an increasingly interconnected and complex world.A fledgling program began in a rented space more than 7 years ago. Visioning and planning efforts continued with the goal of creating a new facility to embody the young school’s mission.Seriousness of purpose, dedication and commitment were invested by all stakeholders to realize the dream of the new International High School.

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Details

Project Name International High School

City Paterson

State New Jersey

District Name Paterson Public School District

Supt/President Dr. Donnie W. Evans, State District Superintendent

Occupancy Date September 2008

Grades Housed 9 to 12

Capacity (Students) 612

Site Size (acres) 4.5 acres

Gross Area (sq. ft.) 115,000 sq. ft. Per Occupant (pupil) 118 sf. ft. per occupant

gross/net please indicate

Design and Build? No

If yes, Total Cost:

Includes:

If no, Administered through NJSDA

Site Development: approximately $4,500,000.

Building Construction: approximately $30,000,000.

Fixed Equipment: approximately $ 1,500,000.

Other:

Total: $36,000,000.


Not to exceed five (10) additional slides

Program Goals and Design Highlights:

Create a collegial atmosphere of academic excellence focused on international and global awareness guided by United Nations principles.

Celebrate cultural diversity in an environment which fosters personal and civic responsibility and encourages a sense of community.

Provide an adaptable learning environment which facilitates new technologies and supports various modalities of multi-disciplinary learning and teaching, interconnectedness and interchange.



“The campus expresses (architecturally) something about the quality of its academic life, as well as its role as a citizen of the community if which it is located. The campus also represents many different things to various groups of people who live, learn, teach, or visit there. It plays the role of home, museum, place of employment, social center, park, arena for dissent, and forum for the search for truth. All these functions must be designed no only for today but also for the future.”

Unknown Author



Athletic Facilities The Main Gymnasium, associated locker rooms and

offices are located in the East wing of the building, and are configured to allow after-hours community use, while allowing the space to remain independent from the rest of the facility. While the site did not allow for a regulation soccer or football field, two play fields have been provided for practice and outdoor games. The fields replace one story industrial buildings, providing a significant improvement to the neighboring residences.

Public access to the gym is provided directly from the street and parking lots located behind the fields, with handicapped access at the front and rear of the building.

An Auxiliary Gym located at the first floor of the classroom core will accommodate individual exercise, dance and team play, and can be utilized by the community for activities.



All upper floor labs and specialized spaces are equipped with uniquely configured casework, furniture allowing for flexible arrangement, and advanced technological support to accommodate multiple modes of learning and teaching, and a variety of curricular activities.

Science Lab / Classroom suites include preparation and storage rooms, and are outfitted with lab and project tables, as well as regular classroom seating.

Art Rooms are outfitted for sculpture, pottery, and graphic arts. Rooms have specialized storage cabinets, wash area, and hanging / lighting apparatus. Adjacent to art rooms in the Atrium is a large gallery/exhibit space.

Geography / Business Room may be used to accommodate weather station information, gathering and reporting, and/or international tracking and communications systems. An adjacent lab supports the International Business and Economics programming.



The Cafeteria occupies a central role in the internal community of the International High School and reinforces the community spirit.

Cafeteria is located at the 2nd floor Atrium, directly opposite entry from the community stair and the Administration Suite, with direct access to the Life Skills room; it is near the Media Center’s internal entrance; and across the corridor from two Student Activity Rooms, which are home to student clubs and associations. The central location of the cafeteria encourages and supports interchange.

Signage within the Cafeteria contains 25 translations of the phrase “Bon Apétit”, and signage in the Atrium, over the glazed wall and doors of the Cafeteria, speaks to the school’s mission:

MANY GENERATIONS - ONE FAMILYMANY CULTURES - ONE WORLD

MANY IDEAS - ONE SCHOOL



Auditorium, Gymnasium, Large Group and specialized labs on the lower level are anticipated to be used not only by students, but also by the community. A large computer lab on the first floor will accommodate a variety of furniture arrangements; the size and ceiling height will afford endless variations for use, for instructional space, broadcasting, project based learning, etc. In the future, the space could be fitted out as a recording studio. Also located on the first floor are the language Lab and ITV Room, which flank the Media Center, and the Technology Lab.

Located on the second floor in the public zone, the Life Skills Room is adjacent to the Cafeteria, and the Seminar Room is adjacent to the Atrium.

The Large Group rooms facilitate a variety of instructional and learning modes, and can accommodate community use.



Architectural treatments, scale, and materials were selected to foster a collegiate atmosphere, which respects the importance of each student and speaks to the importance of the International High school as a new community institution. The use of natural colors, brick, metals and wood finishes and cool tones, with ample light and transparency, has created light and airy spaces where communication and visual interchange foster a shared sense of responsibility and community.

Atrium roof monitors reflect the industrial sky line of the historic industrial City of Paterson, while illuminating the school’s core. The saw-tooth roof windows let in light, which enhances learning, activity, and the educational experiences of students.

The exterior has clean and simple lines and is structured of red brick, made from recycled materials, and aluminum panels, curtain-wall and window accents, marked by clear and simple signage.

Concrete block stepped retaining walls and the multiple levels required for the sloped site are landscaped, opening up to the neighborhood and softening the urban edge.



Physical details and signage support the mission of global awareness and celebration of cultural diversity.

International High School Globe Logo: The new logo was developed for the building signage, and is incorporated in a large graphic near the Main Entry and on the electronic message board facing Grand Street.

Symbolic Signage: Signs in an abstract and international style were designed for core facilities and public use areas.

“Bon Apétit”: Cultural traditions are embodied in the sharing of food, and the production of food is both a local and global practice. The Cafeteria is adorned with “Bon Apétit” translated in 25 languages.

International Flag Plaza: Political, cultural and geographical boundaries are represented by the flags of the world, which are located at a prominent Flag Plaza, at the top of the site.



Continental Satellite Images: The world without political boundaries is depicted within the Auditorium, which houses the UN Model functions of the school, and hosts school-wide and community events. Global satellite images of continental land masses flank the seating area.

Everyman Mural: An opportunity to create a unique photo mural in a visually prominent wall opposite the main entry was realized; thanks to a generous gift, today the students see faces representative of many cultures and ethnicities as they enter their school. The mural images were donated by James P. Warfield, from his work “Everyman”.

“everyman islike all other men,like some other men,like no other man.” -Clyde Kluckhohn

International High School Paterson, NJ High School Project of Distinction - New Construction L+C...

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