Located in a growing area of the Des Moines metro, the Southeast Polk School District needed additional space. As part of a comprehensive plan for the future, the District went through grade realignment of its buildings in order to form a new 6-7 middle school arrangement. frk’s planning team facilitated a vision-finding, co-creative process designed to set the curricular foundation for the building’s design.
The new school is a two-story building located on the crest of a hill in the city of Altoona and is designed to serve 1,200 students. Organized for easy way-finding, the school has two academic wings that radiate from a central two-story high student commons designed to give a sense of connection and belonging to students. Opposite the academic wings, the building extends with more public functions, creating natural security separations within the facility.
The nearly identical academic wings each have two floors of classrooms that flank a central core of locker areas, staff offices, student collaboration areas, and building services. Ample natural light is introduced to all teaching areas, and science exploratory areas are given prominence as they terminate the two wings of the building.