Glacier View Junior High

1. 2009 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture Glacier View Junior High Puyallup, Washington Middle/Junior High School Project of Distinction – New Construction NAC|Architecture

2. Glacier View Junior High

3. Community Environment Situated within an emerging residential community, Glacier View Junior High School is the second phase of development for an emerging K-12 campus. Glacier View builds upon the amenities offered to the community at the existing high school to further engage the campus as a community activity center. Both the building and site amenities are envisioned to be as much of a community asset as they are student learning environments. The building interior is zoned such that after hours community use is encouraged. The Gym, Commons and Library are each separately zoned from the remainder of the building.

4. The 2-story bar form of the building serves as an identifying edge to the junior high grounds and is carved away to reveal courtyards along its length as a welcoming gesture to the remainder of the campus. A first floor breezeway penetrates the bar to highlight the entrance and extends the campus pathway system to athletic fields and parking. The building stakes its claim as a member of the K-12 campus and presents itself to the community in the use of material types common to the existing architecture, but at the same time asserts a unique character through its three dimensional expression. Echoing the topography of the site and environs , the roofline undulates gently down with the slope. Windows, sunshades and recessed vertical panels are arranged along the façade in a rhythmic composition that ties together the modulating roof and grade lines.

5. Learning Environment The campus plan includes an elementary, a junior high, and a high school that can share building and site facilities, allowing programmatic interaction between students of differing educational levels. Campus circulation and a building organization that would facilitate opportunities for shared programs were thoughtfully considered through the design process. The educational vision is that of a ‘seamless’ K-12 campus aligning the grades vertically and offering appropriate opportunities between the grades to build upon learning experiences. Glacier View is programmatically organized and situated on the site such that these opportunities can be found.

6. Glacier View is organized into small grade-based learning communities, the design provides flexible environments to reinforce a commitment to integrated learning. Large and small learning spaces, multi-purpose rooms adjacent each learning community that is equipped with the technology and resources to meet changing program needs, a technology lab that anticipates the future and is designed to evolve over time, and technologies within all learning spaces that provide access to a variety of media and interactive teaching opportunities. Science program spaces are arranged within the learning communities but if so desired can function as a department.

7. Physical Environment The School District wanted to provide the best possible ‘quality’ environments under the District’s standards. The design response integrates natural day lighting and a displacement ventilation system utilizing 100% outside air that contributes to a healthy and stimulating interior learning environment, while outside environmental strategies included use of native and drought tolerant plants, water efficient irrigation, and reuse of feature boulders found on site. Exterior courtyards are linked to the interior via large expanses of glazing, and provide a variety of opportunities for informal gathering, instruction and outside project space.

9. Planning Process The design team and school district were collaborative partners throughout  the in-depth planning process. A series of workshops with user groups and stakeholders conducted along the way helped to foster the spirit of collaboration and to tailor the design to the unique needs of the program. The need for this school to participate within its campus context dictated that both the campus master plan and junior high school project inform each other, resulting in an integrated solution for both components.

10. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2009 Project Data

11. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2009 Project Details