Project Facts
The Forbush SchoolHunt Valley, Maryland U.S.A
- Renovation
- Completed - 2008
- Funding - Private
Project Images
Introduction
Office parks are among the underused and unloved built environments littering the suburban United States. This is the story of one of buildings remarkably transformed into a private school providing educational and theraputic services for children ages 5-21with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Located (Read more)Description
While the original brief for the project was to design and construct a new 30,000 square foot school to replace an over-crowded and out-dated school on the campus of the Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore. The existing private school served a mix of over 200 children about equally distributed (Read more)Design and the User Experience
Achieving the stated goal to rebuild the existing box-shaped warehouse into a model learning environment required that the end result not only avoid an institutional look and feel but also be better than a typical school. It was also critically important to create an environment that addressed the students’ (Read more)Universal Design Features
- Careful attention was paid to the proportions of spaces for both public common areas and classrooms. Ceiling heights and corridor widths were increased beyond code standards to accommodate the children’s needs.
- Bringing in natural light was an important feature of the design. New window openings are introduced around the perimeter of the building to allow each classroom to have daylight.
- A playful pattern of circular skylights helps bring natural light to the common central spaces.
- Because children with ASD tend to be sensitive to the flicker associated with fluorescent lighting, several types of indirect/direct energy efficient fixtures were tested to select the most comfortable/flicker-free ones.
- The use of highly absorptive ceiling panels, quiet mechanical/air distribution systems, and wall materials that minimize transmitted sounds between adjacent spaces results in an acoustically comfortable environment. Amplified noise, echoes and reverberated noise are minimal despite the spaciousness of the place.
- Selecting sustainable materials and a calming uplifting palette of colors was critical for the well-being of the students and staff. With a tight budget of $130 sf, the project targeted a balance of green materials with low off-gassing properties, durable/abuse-resistance, and cost effectiveness.
- A palette of 5 pastel colors was used in selecting colors for walls, floors and translucent accent panels. Color and texture accentuate special zones, identify key areas, create a flow between spaces, and soften the rigidity of the box.
Environmentally Sustainable Features
- The project rehabilitates an existing structure.
- New openings along the exterior walls bring daylight into all the classrooms.
- Skylights provide natural light to all the common spaces.
- Perimeter walls and roof are insulated to increase R-value.
- A highly efficient and quiet zoned mechanical system was installed.
- Soft non-glare, energy efficient and flicker free indirect lighting is used throughout the school.
- Sustainable environmentally preferable products such as: recycled content high impact fiber-board on the walls, formaldehyde free insulation and materials, low-VOC emitting paints and materials, and inherently anti-bacterial and anti-static materials
- Natural and renewable products such as linoleum flooring.
- Use of highly recycled content materials such as translucent resin panels.
- Highly insulated windows with low-e glazing were installed in the school.
