Learnscape-Grain Valley School District

LEARNSCAPE 2017

  • Grain Valley School District
  • Grain Valley High School

Located on a wooded site just South of Grain Valley High School, the concept was to produce and reveal a sense of coexistence among people, nature and technology.

Through design sessions with Grain Valley students and faculty, the idea to create a dominate walkway of varying heights linking learning spaces of diverse sizes took shape. A layer of technology was added to the site, paradoxically, to aid in the experience of the natural site. The major building materials were purposely kept simple – limestone gravel for the path, Cor-ten steel for the major horizontal and vertical elements, and cedar lumber for the deck. Keeping with our concept, the natural environment will slowly change the steel from grey to a dark red as it rusts, while just the opposite will happen to the cedar. It will slowly change from its natural reddish hue to steel grey over time. These materials speak to the ever-changing natural world. The path links several backdrops for education, including a gathering space for 20-30 students and staff, a collaboration space for smaller groups, a garden space to facilitate biological and botanical curriculum, and an observation area away from the noise of civilization meant to be a more quiet and contemplative space for individuals.

Olathe West High School

Olathe West High School

OLATHE, KANSAS

  • Olathe USD 233
  • New Construction
  • 375,000 SF
  • $85 million
  • Design Partner: Stantec Architecture

Learning is on display at this one-of-a-kind high school.

From the moment students walk in the door, they’re greeted with the media center and the 21st Century Learning program labs. Student socialization and collaboration are encouraged with two learning stairs connecting academic neighborhoods.

Academic neighborhoods house a variety of spaces from flexible labs to blended learning environments, giving the school a more collegiate feel. No teacher owns their classroom, but rather chooses the environment that will work best for that day’s lesson.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • AIA Kansas – Citation Award in Large Architecture
  • A4LE Midwest Great Lakes – John Shaw Award

Staley High School

Originally designed from the ground up by Hollis + Miller in 2009, Staley High School recently brought the team back on to design two major additions for academics and athletics.

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Liberty North High School

Liberty North High School Additions

LIBERTY, MISSOURI

  • Liberty Public Schools
  • Additions
  • 42,000 SF total
  • $9 million

This addition embraces a new way of learning for the District. Flexible learning spaces create a culture of collaboration that is unlike any other part of the building.

The existing high school is a traditional learning environment with conventional classrooms that branch off central corridors. With the two-story addition, the District wanted to do more with less – more opportunities for learning in the smaller addition. So, every space is a space for learning. Corridors include furniture that can be used for break-out groups or one-on-one instruction, and classrooms are highly flexible to encourage a variety of teaching styles.

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School

LEE’S SUMMIT, MISSOURI

  • Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph
  • New Construction
  • 90,000 SF
  • $25 million
  • Religious Design Partner: SFS Architecture

Traditional values meet innovative learning where students get a well-rounded education in a space that marries religious teachings with brain-based learning.

This new Kansas City Diocese school combines the former St. Mary’s and Archbishop O’Hara high schools into one cohesive learning environment. A large atrium connects the chapel and academic spaces with a two-story learning stair, which encourages collaboration and community. The classrooms’ traditional style is complemented by flexible furniture that allow the spaces to adapt to each day’s teaching schedule.

Van Horn High School

VAN HORN HIGH SCHOOL

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI

  • Independence School District
  • Addition + Remodel
  • 42,000 SF
  • $17 million

The addition posed the opportunity to create an enhanced sense of place, identity and pride for Van Horn’s students, staff and community.

Walking into the new addition, you’re welcomed by the Hall of Champions, showcasing the rich Van Horn history with team trophies, medals and plaques. A new competition gym elevates the Falcon fan and athlete experience, while also providing enhanced locker room facilities for athletes. New indoor/outdoor concessions and restrooms for indoor sporting events and soccer games are arranged with the hope to provide future infrastructure to bring varsity football games back to campus. A large mezzanine accommodates standing room spectators and dually functions as a practice space for wrestlers, cheerleaders and more.

Beyond athletics, the new addition includes a culinary arts kitchen, a metals workshop and full-service athletic training room, with accompanying classrooms to support those hands-on learning labs. These 21st century equipped spaces demonstrate the District’s commitment to the Independence Careers Academies.

Formerly disconnected from the building itself, the woodshop was brought back into the building by demolishing an existing structure and renovating a former storage space. In addition to the woodshop, six science labs were remodeled.

Grain Valley High School

GRAIN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

GRAIN VALLEY, MISSOURI

  • Grain Valley School District
  • Addition-Phase 4
  • 33,400 SF & 17,600 SF Courtyard
  • $10.2 million

A new face for Grain Valley High School provides a prominent sense of arrival and display of school pride.

Upon arrival at Grain Valley High School, students and visitors are guided in along the impressive, curved, blue CMU wall that begins at the entry and continues throughout the interior, comprising the spine of the building and dubbed “Eagle Way”. The raised entrance increases visibility from the street while improving traffic flow for student drop-off and pick-up.

Similar to a central college campus union, the media center represents the heart of the school, branded by a large glass eagle graphic that is visible from both inside and out. Glass dividers promote connectivity to the lecture hall, makerspace and small group collaboration rooms while providing views into the expansive courtyard. Tiered seating in the courtyard provides an outdoor learning area and offers dynamic spaces for students to socialize.

Grain Valley High School is currently home to nearly 1,100 students but is master planned to accommodate up to 1,600 high school students in the rapidly growing community. While working with the district throughout a five-phase master plan, Hollis + Miller became very familiar with the goals and priorities of the district and community.

Liberty High School Performing Arts Center

LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL Performing Arts Center

LIBERTY, MISSOURI

  • Liberty Public Schools
  • Addition
  • 43,000 SF
  • $16.5 million

The new performing arts space boasts unique elements contributing to the full performance experience, down to the technical and behind-the-scenes details.

As a district who places a strong emphasis on the importance of arts in education, Liberty Public Schools sought to improve its fine arts facilities at Liberty High School as part of the 2018 district bond passage. The addition of the new state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center brings many opportunities for students, featuring an expansive two-tiered auditorium, flexible band, orchestra and choir rooms, a scene shop, drama classroom, individual rehearsal spaces and an event entrance for performance attendees. All of the spaces were designed to be multi-use to maximize the building’s utilization.

Inspired by spaces such as the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the nearly 800-seat addition is comparable to that of a performance space found on a college campus. Securely connected to the high school, students now have a professional setting to hone their talents. Acoustically accurate architectural details support students in achieving their full creative potential.