If you could tear down and rebuild your high school, what would you change?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

My community is in the pretty unique position of maybe having the opportunity to completely rebuild our high school from the ground up.

Plans have already been made on a structural level, but I’m curious as to what ideas CC might have as to other changes. Things like in the classrooms, halls, new spaces for new purposes, etc. For example, a new center build around here has an entire classroom which has walls that are completely white boards.

Any and all ideas are welcome! It’s a pretty urban and diverse school with about 1800 kids, includes career and IB programs, etc.

We also have an old building that we aren’t going to be using anymore, so suggestions for an old elementary school converted into lab space and classrooms are also welcome!

No idea is too out there at this point.

2

Small group / personal study rooms! Love them in college, could have used them in high school for free periods, after school, etc.

My school had a “senior lounge” that was cool - couch, computers, was connected to the college advisors, and any events for the grade happened there. If you can, a lounge per grade would be cool for high school.

Basically, make high school more like college lol

3

That’s such a neat opportunity! I feel like architecture and design are really important. Going to a school that looks like a jail can really hurt morale for both students and teachers.

4

My high school is designing a new building specifically for STEM. It will have new innovative lab spaces, a Maker space (!!), and breakout rooms for science group projects. This new building also allows for new classes such as engineering, coding, and robotics. Considering the importance of computer literacy those ideas could definitely be beneficial for your school too!

5

Windows. Lots of windows.

Some sort of common space. My school has this, and it’s simply called “commons.” TJHSST’s new design has this, it should be searchable on YouTube. Also, look at the construction pictures for Nolensville High School or Franklin High School in TN. Apparently, that county is really big on the whole “commons” concept.

If your school is BYOT-friendly, charging ports!!!

Maybe multiple areas for eating.

2 stairwells for each wing. Wide ones.

Balconies <3

Specialized areas for each of the career programs.

Maybe an IB lounge??? TJHSST will have lounges for each “major” in its new building.

An area with a bunch of (easily cleanable) chairs, sofas, or even beanbags.

Space for each performing arts group.

YESSSS to the study-room concept.

Maybe window ledges wide enough to sit on?

PE equipment the community wants.

Cool lab spaces that people might actually get excited about.

Extra room for clubs.

My high school is pretty chill, I guess. We have little parties on Fridays in Commons, balconies with furniture, fairly wide window ledges, and an outdoor area for lunch. However, there are (I think) 7 portables, lots of interior rooms w/o windows, several drab, dark lab rooms, no extra study rooms, sparse electrical outlets in a very tech-friendly school, crowded staircases, and no room for the orchestra.

But I agree with the other posters: make high school more like college

6
  • Lots of huge windows (maybe even skylights)
  • Somewhere to nap during free periods
  • Multiple cafeteria lines to reduce wait time
  • Wide staircases to reduce transit time between classes
  • More comfortably chairs in classrooms
  • Small study rooms/ spaces
  • Many practice rooms for musicians
  • Big library with lots of new reference books
  • One big computer lab with all software used in classes: Microsoft Office, Autodesk, Photoshop. Oh, and with color printers that students can use
  • Bathrooms with fully enclosed stalls -'movie theater' space for classes to view and discuss documentaries -a maker space with 3D printers, CNC mills, lathes... -rooftop garden to be used by biology and environment al science classes as well as culinary career students and the cafeteria

As for the lab spaces, it’d be cool to have labs specialized for different classes- like a chemistry lab would be completely different from a physics or environmental science one. My school’s are pretty cookie cutter (sink, electrical outlet, gas for Bunsen burners), which we used a lot in Chem but never physics.

7

-better computers
-more openable windows
-all classrooms being able to adjust temperature
-better bathrooms

8

These ideas are all great!

I should add, though, we all have our own Mac laptops provided by the school.

9

Waterslides. Nuff said

10

Yes, good bathrooms! With actual sinks! My school’s bathrooms are the worst!

11

Love the idea of maker spaces!

12

Apply universal design to accommodate learning and ability differences.

13

@dyiu13 Could you elaborate a little bit on what that means?

14

Universal design is rooted in an approach to architectural design that now extends to other realms such as instructional design and communications design. A high school is a great place to apply it. Basically, it’s design that smooths the environment so it can be accessed by all people with their wide array of needs. It addresses “disability” or differences in the community who is using the facility by finding design solutions that are seamless and don’t scream “marginalization” like, say, an awkward and obvious “handicapped entrance” might. In a school setting, it can also be applied to learning, ensuring that difference learning styles and needs are accommodated seamlessly. Hope this makes sense. A Google search would land some better descriptions.

15

One thing: I would make the bathrooms bearable

16

For us shy introverts, a place to eat lunch besides the cafeteria. Like study lounges where you can eat there in a little corner without being noticed :).
More nooks and crannies to hang out with friends.

17

Yes, safe nooks and crannies. Malleable space for meetings, performances, collaborations. Quiet space too. Nature/plants (green planted roof, etc.). I’m seeing a lot of these design elements in new college architecture.

18

An actual auditorium.

Wider stairwells (barely two people can fit, one going up and one going down)

Some quiet study rooms (because no one is quiet there)

These are the only big ones I can think of, but they mostly apply to my school.

19

These are all great suggestions! Thank you all.

20

Since bathrooms have been brought up, perhaps a plan to include gender neutral bathrooms.