Central High School Central School District | Independence, OR

Beginning with an extensive visioning process, the addition and modernization of Central High School retained and renovated large portions of the existing school. The new main entrance and school administration offices front an interior “street” that leads to the remodeled media center, linking the new classroom wings to existing classroom areas. Efficiently-designed classroom wings allow for flexible groupings and adjustments for a variety of teaching and learning styles.

Designed to incorporate an aesthetically pleasing design based on a better learning environment, durable finishes, maximized day lighting, efficient site integration, and environmentally conscious design and construction methods were implemented. The project, which includes the installation of a 100-kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic system, is designed to LEED Gold Certification.

Reconstruction of the school presented its own share of complexities, starting with the challenge of constructing the two-story interior “street” in the first 10 weeks of the project, before students arrived back from summer break. The new classroom wing was completed by Christmas break. Moving the students into the new classrooms during the school year allowed demolition and construction to occur in the existing portions of the building designated for renovation. The overall phasing plan included 19 different areas, separated into three phases with overlapping timeframes to ensure that the school could still operate safely and effectively for students.