The various classrooms with lots of glass looks beautiful and modern. However, I see the excessive amount of glass as a source of distraction for students in the classroom. They will be easily distracted by all the stimuli outside of the classroom and it provides very little privacy.
Clear sight-lines in schools provide opportunities for student collaboration as well as a heightened sense of security. This method of design is being used in all 21st century educational spaces. Experience has shown that initially a high degree of transparency is novel for the students and teachers alike, but soon becomes "normal" as the space outside the classroom is leveraged for learning.
I love the open spaces, however will there be spaces or classrooms which provide less openness for students who have focus issues and are easily distracted by stimulus.
The new building has space for collaboration as well as private space for study and reflection. Examples of areas with private space are breakout rooms and in the media center.
With all of these glass walls and open spaces, how will kids with vertigo deal with 2nd floor classes?
The building will meet all ADA and code requirements for building construction.
I am concerned about too much openness and visibility. Kids get very distracted and so do I! Can we at least close off rooms between one another but, glass to halls?
Currently there are no interior windows designed between classrooms. Classrooms will have half height glazing looking out into the hallway and will have window treatments in the case that windows need to be closed.
With such open spaces we will have a lot of distracted students. Will there be a way to not have it open?
Classrooms will have half height glazing looking out into the hallway and will have window treatments in the case that windows need to be closed.
Where is there space for storage?
Storage is included in the design on every level of the school. The design build team has met with department heads to understand storage needs.
Please include a dedicated room for nursing mothers.
Nursing/wellness rooms are included in each teacher work area.
Concern about lack of outdoor space.
The design build team is developing as many usable outdoor spaces as the site will allow. Thank you for your comment.
The rooftop space looks very small and artificial.
Green roof areas are still being evaluated during design process. Thank you for your comment.
I'm sorry that there will not be a large courtyard for students to learn to appreciate nature.
There will be courtyard and outdoor spaces outside the main level. There will also be green roof courtyards on the upper levels of the school.
Walls of glass look nice but, I am concerned about noise and distractions when many students are in the halls.
Clear sight-lines in schools provide opportunities for student collaboration. This method of design is being used in all 21st century educational spaces. Experience has shown that initially a high degree of transparency is novel for the students and teachers alike, but soon becomes "normal" as the space outside the classroom is leveraged for learning.
Derk discussed differentiated space – if all glass and high visibility – how is this differentiated?
The building will not be all glass. There will be a combination of glass, wood, drywall and brick to break up spaces.
Can teachers have site visits to a glass walled school to see how teachers use the space?
We are in the process of coordinating a site visit.
Noise pollution level.
The new school will be compliant with sound transmission building codes.
Ventilation system running.
The new school will be compliant with LEED Gold and NetZero standards regarding HVAC systems.
Green spaces?
Green spaces will be provided on main level and upper levels via green roofs/terraces.
I'm concerned about the open space/ windows for those who have attention issues or sensory overload issues- can these be shades to pull down? Also for safety?
There will be window treatments on interior and exterior windows.
Heating/ cooling are often issues in the schools – can these be adjusted in each room, at least a bit?
The new school will be compliant with LEED Gold and NetZero standards regarding HVAC systems.
Might there be issues with glare with all the windows?
The design build team is studying light and glare throughout the building and keeping their findings in consideration throughout design.
A shared collaborative office space does not take the place of having one’s own classroom or ‘space’ for students. What are the plans for this? Are you aiming for teachers to have classrooms or will much floating between rooms be expected as part of being ‘flexible.’
Initially it is likely that teachers may have their own classroom, but as instructional needs change and enrollment reaches the 1500 student capacity, classrooms will be used by multiple teachers. Teachers will always have access to collaborative office spaces and breakout spaces available. Classrooms may be used for multiple disciplines throughout the day depending on the building scheduling.
How many students will the classrooms be prepared to accommodate?
Standard classrooms will be able to accommodate as many 25-30 students at a time, but that's also dependent on the type of furniture in the space.
Class sizes have been growing across the US in recent years. Where will they be in 50 years?
There is no way to predict things from 50 years from now. Currently class sizes in FCCPS are determined by the School Board.
Is there a way to have half-height blinds from floor up that would allow teachers to cover up some distractions to students sitting in classes?
There will be window treatments on interior and exterior windows.
These spaces cannot be modular the way they are now so it’s important to audit what we want to offer and commit to it with a proper lab. (CTE)
All labs are being designed with input from staff.
Is it worth having lockers in the new building? (Currently, high school students don't use them)
200 lockers are included in the program that will be used by students as needed. Students will be able to check out a locker when they need them.
Has there been any discussion about students who have sensory issues who may need spaces that are not so visually, auditorily, etc. stimulating?
FCCPS will always accommodate students with special needs when needed, but the new building is being designed to meet the needs of All FCCPS students.
Where is the space for privacy? With all of the open areas, where do teachers go to grade, call parents, write IEPs?
Teachers will have their own dedicated office space in the teacher collaboration/work room. There are also small breakout rooms and offices that can be used.
Are we planning for bullet resistant glass?
Bullet resistant glass is going to be included in some undisclosed portions of the school.
Have the plumbing and sewage issues at the middle school been fully investigated, addressed and fixed and taken into account so as to avoid similar issues with the high school’s new construction?
Yes, we are working with the general government and the economic development to address these issues.
I was the first graduating class in a high school with no walls in 1973. Eventually, walls were built (and now school is being rebuilt). Please design for possibility of adding walls in the future.
The new school will have walls. Additionally the new school is being design with future flexibility in mind.
Most conversation has been about our high functioning students, but my concern is for a safe accessible area for our self-contained and special education students. Some need specialized bathrooms too.
The new building is being designed to meet the needs of all FCCPS students to include our special populations. The building will be fully accessible to all students with special needs.
What accommodations will be made for accessible restrooms for male/female students?
There will be gender specific, gender neutral, and ADA restrooms available throughout the school.
Possibly use glass that is resistant to bullets/hard materials? Or at least provide more protection than traditional glass.
Bullet resistant glass is going to be included in some undisclosed portions of the school.
Create a secret location for all students to retreat in case of emergencies.
The building will have numerous means of egress and to find shelter/safety during an emergency.
Thinking about school safety and distractions, will there be blinds (or blackout windows) to pull down with all the windows?
There will be window treatments on interior and exterior windows.
What will safety look like with the open spaces?
The building will have numerous means of egress and to find shelter/safety during an emergency.
I love all of the natural light in the classrooms! However, with all the winds to the hallway, how will we ensure safety (both from disruptive students and from intruders)?
The building will only have one main entry point to control access to the building. For disruptive students, our Admin Team will work with them as needed.
Concern about glass walls: Security? Lock down drills? Currently we have to cover all windows so that students can be unseen.
With the new ALICE training model that All GM staff received, our current model for lock-downs is evolving. That will include how we run drills.
With so few entrances to the building, how quickly can the building (1,000+ students and also staff) be evacuated in case of fire?
Emergency egress is readily available from all levels of the school via secured stairwells. Emergency evacuation will be in compliance with all fire safety codes.
How will all that light impact visibility of projections?
There will be window treatments on interior and exterior windows that can be lowered for projections.
What is in the building design that will help improve collaboration among teachers within the same department?
Access to Staff Collaborative Offices as well as the numerous collaborative areas within the building pods.
Can all the glass be bulletproof?
No, the building will not have bullet proof glass at all locations. Bullet resistant glass is going to be included in some undisclosed portions of the school.
I'm concerned about 6th graders interacting a lot with 12th graders if the schools are more or less connected. It’s already hard to mix 6th and 8th graders due to developmental differences.
MEHMS and GMHS will still operate as separate schools. Middle school students will only have access to the high school if they are taking classes at the high school, similar to current middle school access to the high school.
Will students be able to get from one room to another on time? (if fitness is moved to the 5th floor, for example)
The vertical distance between levels is shorter than the horizontal distance from one end to the other of the current GMHS. There are also many options of vertical transportation, stairs and elevators, to provide access from floor to floor.
Can students get from class to class in a timely fashion?
The vertical distance between levels is shorter than the horizontal distance from one end to the other of the current GMHS. There are also many options of vertical transportation, stairs and elevators, to provide access from floor to floor.
How will special needs students be accommodated? i.e. students with wheelchairs/physical disability- what will be different to support learning for them? What kind of spaces will they have to learn? Vocational/ tech/ media/ etc?
The building is fully ADA compliant with multiple elevators. Students within our special populations categories will be accommodated and the building is being designed for inclusiveness for all students, regardless of need.
Granting innovation, I hope to see spaces teachers can invest in to build community with a class (decorate) and put bookshelves, etc.
There will be spaces that teachers will be able to decorate.
Will teachers have their own classrooms or will they be sharing/floating? How will that look?
Initially there may be classrooms with only one teacher assigned, but as instructional needs change and the building enrollment grows, classrooms may be shared across one or multiple disciplines. Staff will always have dedicated "office space" in a shared collaborative office.
Is there a line between teacher/student, seems like the building is student focused?
We are here to educate and support students first and foremost, but we are also designing spaces for our staff to aid in the educational achievements for our students.
There does not appear to be any outdoor space to take students for outdoor lessons – or for teachers to stop out for fresh air.
Green spaces will be provided on main level and upper levels via green roofs/terraces.
Where are the bookcases?
Bookcase layout in media center is being designed in design development.
Will there be a space for teachers to plan/work collaboratively?
Teachers will have their own dedicated office space in the teacher collaboration/work room which will also have a large conference space. There are also small breakout rooms and offices that can be used.
Will class variety increase (+ new hires) to fill these new ‘cool’ spaces of the high school?
New hires and class offerings will be based on numerous things: budget, enrollment, requests by students and School Board approvals.
Do you foresee a noise problem once we move into the new school from demolition and the new surrounding building?
There will be added noise on the site with the demolition of the old school, but it won't be disruptive to day-to-day operations of the school.
Wall/board space: will there still be a lot of space for students to work out problems so that the teacher can quickly look around and assess understanding?
There will be space for white boards and smart boards in every classroom.
Will each department have a collaborative space to facilitate CT teams?
We will have multiple spaces available for teachers to meet.
What is the future of CTE in FCCPS? Green? Sustain?
FCCPS continues to work with our Admins and CTE Team on where the program is currently and will be in the future.
Each class requires a specialized space: TV studio, computer lab, fabrication shop, open workspace. (CTE)
We are working with CTE faculty to provide the infrastructure and space for CTE classes.
Will there be a multi-purpose space that could be used for testing? (Would need quiet and no visual distractions)
There are numerous spaces throughout the building that can be used for testing.
How much of the science and tech area is informed by the current/ future needs of industry and preparing students for jobs as bench chemists or engineers? Or even carpenters and electricians?
We are working with science and CTE faculty to determine the infrastructure and space for classes. We are also gather industry best practices and visiting other programs to ensure we are developing a program for the future.
Will you have a language lab?
Classroom spaces will be flexible to accommodate all curriculum areas.
Based on previous discussions and overviews about the shared kitchen, are we aware of the re-location and re-purposing of the MEH Vocal Music Room? Is there any additional space from the middle school being re-purposed as part of the shared kitchen/ serving space? For example: Room 108, 108A/B, and room 110 in the MEH are all additional spaces in connection with the current MEH cafeteria space.
The Current MEH Choral Room is being relocated to where the current MEH Kitchen is. The other spaces near the cafeteria, for example band, are not moving.
There’s a focus on athletic space- what about performance space?
Ample performance space is being provided to include a 650 seat Auditorium, Blackbox Theater as well as numerous other collaborative spaces in the heart of the school that could be used for smaller music and theater performances.
How many does the auditorium seat?
Auditorium seats 650.
Where can the whole school gather?
All students and faculty will fit in the main gym.
Can my classroom (Shawn Northrip, VPA Theater) be near the auditorium, in the event I must monitor both spaces at once?
The Black-box theater is located in the VPA wing on the lower level of the building due to ceiling height requirements for your space.
The video and presentation shows that the MEH Art room will be impacted by these changes, perhaps not exist. How will the art program at MEH be accommodated as relates to studio space, storage, ventilation, natural light, electrical, plumbing, exhibition, etc?
The Art Room at MEH is not being touched and will remain in its current space.
For our “sacred vessels of potential” (our students, I love it), it would be awesome to imprint their memory with sculpture, art, murals and green space. Perhaps we could collaboratively make some site specific artworks for the new school.
There will be many areas where student art will be able to be displayed. Thank you for your comment.
(Theater) Will there be dressing rooms for student actors and theater renters?
Yes, dressing rooms are included in the design.
(Theater) Will there be bathrooms accessible to performers?
Yes, bathrooms have been included.
(Theater) Will there be costume/ prop storage areas?
Yes.
(Theater) Will there be areas available for costume/ prop construction and washer dryer area for washing costumes?
Yes, washer and dryer for washing costumes will be in the school.
(Theater) Will the stage to dressing areas and audience to stage be ADA accessible?
Yes.
Will the new weight room have new equipment for cross training/ cross-fit? Ex: bumper plates, kettle bands, power lifting stations.
Equipment has not been selected at this point.
The large glass windows look good but, will they handle the balls constantly being bounced off them?
The design build team is evaluating glass type to include in the gym. All materials in the gym will be appropriate for all athletic use.
Will the lights from the gym be a distraction during events on the stadium field?
No
How will we keep the gym windows clean?
New building will have a new cleaning and maintenance protocols.
Are we going to have charging stations in the gym?
There will be outlets in the gym but currently there are no plans for a charging station in the gym.
Cyber security is a rapidly growing career field. Could we have a cyber security lab with a network that students can actually access/hack/protect? Student laptops and the school network won't simulate the types of experiences they need.
We are working with CTE faculty to provide the infrastructure and space for classes like Cyber Security.
Can you PLEASE elevate the tennis courts? The current courts were destroyed in two years.
The new Tennis Courts are being designed to meet all code and construction requirements so they last for many years to come.
(Basketball Competition Gym) What is the layout design?
The gyms will both be designed and laid out to meet all VHSL requirements. GM Coaches, PE Teachers and Admins will all have input into the final design/color-scheme of both gyms.
(Basketball Competition Gym) How many fil courts will be in the gym?
There will be 1 Full, Regulation Court in both the Main and Auxiliary Gym. Both gyms will be able to split into half courts for practices.
(Basketball Competition Gym) Locker rooms?
Locker rooms will be located on ground floor. PE and team locker rooms will be provided for student use.
Can we incorporate existing donated bricks into new construction?
Existing memorial bricks will be incorporated into new high school.
Dream question for community- public/ school swimming pool? (No such new resource is in the community)
It is not part of the project scope to add a pool.
Will there be electronic charging stations for cars?
We are working with the economic development and the general government on including electronic charging stations.
PE/recess field use during construction is our biggest concern.
The stadium and baseball fields will be open and accessible during construction
How will the construction affect those of us in the middle school? (Parking, noise, and other potential distractions)
There will be alternate parking available for staff during the project as needed. As with any major construction project, there will be noise involved, but we will work with our construction team to ensure minimal disruptions.
Where will summer school and ESY services for MEH be held during construction?
At MEH. No changes are planned.
Teacher parking during construction – what will that look like? Will there be enough? Will teachers/staff be given priority over students for parking?
Parking during construction is included in the design build team's logistics planning.
Teacher parking during construction is my big concern. Where is there enough?
Parking during construction is included in the design build team's logistics planning.