Parkrose High School Community Center Parkrose School District | Portland, OR

This district, the majority of whom are senior citizens, had shown little willingness to support past bond proposal efforts. Working with more than 350 community/staff members in Town Hall Sessions and 120 community/staff members in Focus Group Sessions over a three-month period, a new mission and emphasis emerged. Several months were spent assessing the current needs of the school and the community as well as projecting how these needs would evolve over time.

The resulting Master Plan included a Community Center, combined Multnomah County and Parkrose High School Library, a Wellness Center and Aquatic Center, Performing Arts Center, Community Policing Office and Health Clinic. Additionally, facilities for internship programs, and a vocational/technical curriculum were included. The building is essentially three parts: active learning (performing arts center and wellness center), academic learning (library, seminar rooms, and large group rooms), and student and community center.

Program components include:

• Learning Areas with 20 “seminar” or classrooms, offices (115,000 sf)
• Student Commons with food services, market place, and student activities (14,400 sf)
• Performing Arts Center with 600-seat auditorium, full-fly stage with orchestra pit, classrooms for drama, band and choir, Television / Radio studios (21,000 sf)
• County Public Library/Media Center with career center (10,200 sf)
• Community/Senior Center with health clinic, police office, multipurpose and art rooms (11,000 sf)
• Wellness/Fitness Areas with gymnasium, dance/aerobic facilities, training and weight rooms (37,000 sf)
• Aquatics Center, enclosed with expandable 25- to 50-meter pool (13,000 sf)