Richland School District Two’s new Middle School is located in the rapidly growing Blythe­wood area and is designed to grow with its initial population of 1050 students. The 17-acre site includes play fields and a planned area for a future center magnet program. The building is oriented north-south on the site to maximize daylighting in all the major learning spaces and in corridor and public spaces. The design features many sustainable principles: in addition to daylighting, energy efficient mechanical systems, local & recycled materials, and indigenous landscape are featured.

The building is organized around a large courtyard that features outdoor learning and teaching spaces via a pavilion and landscaped areas. The building design features three academic wings with flexible, collaborative central spaces to provide diversity of learning options. Within each house are larger flexible classrooms that open via large folding glass doors into two story collaboration areas full of daylight from the clerestory above. The exterior of the building combines local brick, glass and metal panels in a timeless but modern compo­sition. The project is designed in collaboration with Perkins + Will K-12 Studio and is LEED for Schools certified.