Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD—dewitt Lab and Leadership Learning Center
Architects: VLK Architects
Additions and Renovations to historical middle school
Design
“Strategies for fostering an engaging classroom include incorporating spaces for collaboration, student choice, and flexibility within space to cater to diverse learning styles. Learner-focused and engaging experiences catalyze a collaborative, age-appropriate, supportive village design. Modernized, future-adaptive spaces inspire an evolution of instruction while honoring community history and legacy.
“”We have space to move Furniture , it makes me feel like we are working close and together.”””
Value
The district continues to capitalize on donated land provided for the community’s first school. A patchwork of additions and renovations prevented efficiency throughout the decades. maximizing the budget aligned with the district’s vision, the campus was carefully studied. Spaces now intentionally rejuvenate the community’s historical safehaven, achieved through thoughtful adjacencies, refreshed graphics, and innovative modifications while preserving the school’s legacy and memories.
Wellness
“Inclusive classrooms welcome students to learn regardless of their classification, meeting individual needs. Embracing and utilizing diverse learning spaces, teachers illustrate how instructional goals are achieved through reimagined, emotionally supportive learning Villages.Comfortable, bright, flexible spaces facilitate peer interaction and provide access to multiple learning modalities, accommodating all learners.
“”Comfortable environments allow students to support/interact with each other.”””
Community
“Established in 1915 as the community’s first school building, fond memories, and legacy are alive through visual storytelling, shared community values, and historical showcasing. Experiences to reimagine identity, foster school spirit, and convey educational goals through the renovated environment cultivate a renewed sense of belonging for users and the Eagle community.
“”We pride ourselves as a family at this campus and I would like to see that through the historical pieces of our past.”””
Planning
“Deliberate reconfiguration creates a tapestry of cohesive Villages, establishing grade-level separation and nurturing collaborative environments that provide a safe haven of support. Harnessing the disruptive voice of students for constructive design solutions, and listening to perspectives prompted a shift in teaching methodology, collective efficacy, and student experiences.
“”The old school was all dark and gloomy and you didn’t want to go to school. Now, I feel like I want to go to school.”””
School Transformation
“Collaborative visioning and shared understanding of desired spaces are crucial to aligning with academic experiences, prioritizing student well-being, and fostering a sense of grade-level belonging. Established adjacencies offer an open feel, enabling natural transitions between areas for teachers and students as the environment moves from flexible space to classroom providing seamless instruction.
“”Teachers are comfortably moving around, and teaching fluently. It is easier to understand them.”””
Star of Distinction Category Winner