Belton ISD—North Belton Middle School
This is a new middle school facility for a rapidly growing suburban school district. Originally conceived as a resite, the school was designed as an original plan to address growth and changing needs.
Community
- New MS engages an expanding community with potential to be a focal point for future growth
- Material use and aesthetic influenced by nearby medical center and elementary school
- Extended learning spaces foster collaboration within each grad
- Pod organization fosters communities within student body
Design
- School is organized around a central core, with highly flexible spaces and creative circulation
- The Core consists of: Open Library; Genius Bar; Living Room; Double Sided Stage; Cafeteria
- School separated into Pods: Academic, Fine Arts, Athletics. Each Pod is self-sufficient with all necessary spaces
Planning
- Project goals were to: Create a compact and efficient design; Bring library to the center of the school; Create self-contained grade level pods; Create separate areas for activities; Respond to unique site conditions
- Several concepts generated, evaluated and combined
- Two day on-site work, getting feedback and evaluation in real-time from the faculty and administrators
Sustainability
- N/S Orientation
- Natural Lighting throughout
- Use of Local Stone and Durable Materials
- Three Functional Courtyards – Two between the pods, and third outside the cafeteria
- High reflectivity roofs, high-performance glass, efficient HVAC, native landscaping
- Plentiful bike racks
Value
- Major Functional Spaces within Core and Pods double as circulation
- Core has multiple functions both during and after school hours due to ability to isolate any of the pods from the Core
- Full Stadium cost savings achieved on project (press booth, concessions, stands)
- Sustainability features lowering operating cost – 50% lower per sq. ft than other district facilities
- Advantageous location positions the MS to serve current student population and able to handle future growth of ISD
School Transformation
- Library/Genius bar become hubs and circulation through the academic parts of the building
- The stage is double-sided and equipped to simultaneously serve both directions as separate spaces
- The living room can function as an extension of the stage; small presentation seating; extra seating for Genius bar; or operate as flex space for various collaborative work
- The Pod Commons adapt hallways of class pods into functional space for students to collaborate and for expanded teaching space
Star of Distinction Category Winner