Mountainside Middle School

Mead, WashingtonNew Construction

Middle/Junior High SchoolNAC|Architecture

2010 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

Mountainside Middle School

Mountainside Middle School

Main EntryCommunity Environment:Designed to replace the district’s original aging middle school, Mountainside Middle School was located farther north, reflecting the growth patterns in the Mead area. The semi-rural nature of the surrounding communities necessitated the building’s role as a community focal point. Heavy after-hours and weekend use is the rule rather than the exception.

HallwayCommunity Environment:Considerable planning went into the requirements for community use of the sports fields, gym, library and other meeting spaces. The energy and passion shown by the planning participants to ensure a long-lasting, economically viable learning environment resulted in a community icon for generations to come.

Science LabLearning Environment:The new 115,260-square-foot Mountainside Middle School houses 17 mainstream classrooms; two options classrooms; six science classrooms; an art room; band and choral suites; three resource rooms with separate DLC suite and support spaces; a library/media center; two separate gymnasiums with adjacent locker facilities, fitness room, weight room, and wrestling/climbing room; industrial technology shop and classroom; and various educational and building support facilities. The building was designed with a team teaching concept in mind. The educational wings at the east portion of the building are arranged in five distinct teams, each consisting of three general classrooms and a science room.

LibraryLearning Environment:This academic half of the building is separated from the more noisy/public areas such as the gymnasiums, commons/cafeteria, music, and technical education spaces via a large north-south corridor extending through the entire building.

Higher than normal classroom ceilings together with full-height windows allow deeper penetration of natural light without the risk of glare. Brick and concrete block materials emphasize the district’s commitment to long-term value and contribute to the timeless design.

South Elevation Physical EnvironmentNatural buffers of trees and vegetation line the entire east and west sides of the site. The building sets back approximately 350 feet from the road, which allows for landscaping and visual relief from vehicle traffic, preserving the semi-rural nature of the community. Outside site improvements include an eight-lane track with a football/soccer field contained within, two baseball fields, two softball diamonds, shot-put area, and a full-size soccer/P.E. field.

CourtyardPhysical Environment:The site includes a dedicated bus loading lane with a separate area for special-needs buses, a separate lane for student drop-off/pick-up, and parking for 300 cars to accommodate event parking.

Reception DeskPlanning Process:A Planning Symposium was the first step in the design process for the new middle school. Facilitated by the architect, this symposium brought together various Mead School District staff, parents, administrators, and community members. The symposium succeeded as an introduction to the planning process, energizing the participants about the upcoming design work and giving them an opportunity to share their insights and let their voices be heard.

Upper HallwayPlanning Process:The symposium was intended to inspire the attendees through various sessions devoted to new concepts in education, technology, and school design. It was also intended to identify and prioritize some of the key issues with regard to site design and building organization. Group discussions covered topics such as schools’ community identity, community use of schools both now and in the future, ideal learning environments through various perspectives, and more practical issues such as what types of things work and don’t work in schools today.

Floor Plan

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2010 Project Data

Submitting Firm : NAC|ArchitectureProject Role Architect of RecordProject Contact Thomas Golden, AIA, LEED APTitle PrincipalAddress 1203 West Riverside AvenueCity, State or Province, Country Spokane, WA USAPhone (509) 838-8240

Joint Partner Firm: N/AProject RoleProject ContactTitleAddressCity, State or Province, CountryPhone

Other Firm: N/AProject RoleProject ContactTitleAddressCity, State or Province, CountryPhone

Construction Firm: Lydig ConstructionProject Role General ContractorProject Contact Vince J. Campenella Title Senior Project Manager Address 11001 East MontgomeryCity, State or Province, Country Spokane, WA USAPhone (509) 534-0451 

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2010 Project Details

Project Name  Mountainside Middle School

City  Mead

State  Washington

District Name  Mead School District

Supt/President  Dr. Thomas Rockefeller

Occupancy Date  September 2008

Grades Housed  7-8

 

Capacity(Students)  750

Site Size (acres) 32 acres 

Gross Area (sq. ft.)  115,260 SF

Per Occupant(pupil)  153.68 SF/pupil (net)

gross/net please indicate  

 

Design and Build?  No

If yes, Total Cost:  

Includes:  

 

If no,  

Site Development: $25,200,000 

Building Construction: $29,300,000

Fixed Equipment: $800,000 

Other:  

 

Total: $55,300,000