Mat Su Career & Technical High School

Wasilla, AlaskaProject of Distinction

McCool Carlson Green Architects with Dr. George Copa

2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

Mat Su Career & Technical High

Planning ProcessWith less than 2 months to explore new directions, update the Ed Spec and create a concept design the project team adopted an integrated approach combining concept design activities with visioning exercises in a series of interactive user driven workshops. Breaking from the usual linear progression this process created unique opportunities and insights as design and program discussions evolved on parallel tracks.

Learning Plan

Visioning

Planning

Concepts

Planning WorkshopsThe more than 50 participants included a broad range of school, community and business partners creating diverse and highly relevant input. Published as a supplement to the Ed Spec the Learning Plan summarizes the process and identifies critical areas of change and sets the stage for future exploration and growth of the CTE program.

Participants developed a compelling Learning Signature; Changing, Adapting, Connecting / Inviting, Welcoming, Responding that speaks eloquently to the center’s future orientation and its deep roots within the community. The project responds to the signature’s reference to the Matanuska River with flowing textures and a core design concept focused on agility and adaptability.

Learning Plan ConceptsCreate a Learning Network: while functioning as a comprehensive full time high school the facility should also serve part time high school students with future plans to serve post secondary and adult learners. Distance learning programs should reach out to remote areas of the Borough, State and the world.

Integrate Academics: collocate academic and technical spaces to support the integrated, academy style curriculum, meeting the expectations for both continued post secondary learning and productive family-wage work.

Adapt to Change: flexible instructional spaces should support individual, small group and large group learning with offices, technical laboratories, resources, and storage for project based learning. Over time it should be capable of transitioning from a classroom based instruction model to an individual standards based instructional model. Shared core functions should have the agility to change throughout the day to meet multiple needs and future program changes.

Culinary Arts

Nursing

Learning Plan ConceptsDecentralized Resources: locate shared resources where they are needed most. Administrative functions should be located in or near career pathways to improve interactions between students, school staff and administrators. Libraries and other technical resources are included in each pathway where they provide ready references for hands-on learning.

Create Compelling Identities: develop a sense of belonging and pride for each student, staff member, parent and community partner. Express the unique, compelling vision of the Center’s educational aspirations through development of a relevant Learning Signature. Within the complex develop unique identities for each small learning community of 100 students.

Embrace the Community: recognize the community as the ultimate client, a source of vitality and renewal for the program. Create relevant, meaningful opportunities for business partner interaction within the daily operations of the school.

Partners Room

Flexible Instruction Space

Learning SignatureInspiring and motivating students, this bold facility brings the power of the Alaskan landscape and technology together. The new facility creates a positive and visible focus for the Borough CTE programs with strong connections to the community and business partners. At once fun and serious, students respond with pride to its strong sense of purpose and unique expression.

Natural Patterns respond to the program’s relationship to the dramatic Alaskan landscape. Exterior wall systems feature undulating, connecting patterns with a ‘glacial’ color scheme. Flowing textures on interior concrete floors and railings respond to the Learning Signature’s allusion to the ‘connecting, changing, dynamic Matanuska River.’ Much more than an aesthetic device, they give visible form to the changeable and connecting nature of the community, spaces and programs.

Welcoming Entry

Color, Texture, Pattern

Agility & IdentityPathway Identities: portals incorporate angular shapes, distinctive colors and custom logos creating individual identities for each pathway connected to the whole through the MPR/Partners Room, creating layers of community. As one moves through the portal, each small learning community further expresses its own personality, culture and supporting environment.

Transformational Spaces like adaptable labs, flexible learning areas and reconfigurable MPR/Partners Room respond to changing community needs. Seismic braces located at the perimeter of the modularly designed learning spaces allow for adaptation over time to a more individual based learning or other program model.

Pathway Portal

Partners Room in Transition

WelcomingFirst Impressions: the dynamic entrance canopy reaches out dramatically proclaiming the school’s technical orientation and leading to an expansively glazed entry lobby. Low winter sun penetrates the entry and MPR/Partners Room creating a warm, welcoming experience for students, staff and visitors

Outdoor Learning areas are oriented towards the sun, protected from prevailing winds and weather, connecting visually and programmatically to the interior learning spaces. Learning, socializing and celebrating spills out into the sun filled patio areas through a large overhead door.

Transparency & Connections

Outdoor Learning

SustainabilityBuildings Teach: architectural features and advanced engineering systems are on display, intriguing and challenging students to learn more about the world around them, especially appropriate for a program that includes Architecture, Engineering & Construction. Visible systems include cable distribution, ductwork, lighting and an innovative buckling restraint seismic bracing system. Sustainable Features include high performance glass, low maintenance polished concrete floors, prefinished wall materials (less painting), highly efficient mechanical and lighting systems and readily accessible infrastructure. The existing mature birch forest is substantially preserved screening parking, providing buffers to neighborhoods and enhancing recreational opportunities for school programs. Located adjacent to an existing Middle School the program shares athletic fields further reducing tree cutting requirements.

Accessible Systems

Articulated Structure

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Data

Submitting Firm : McCool Carlson Green ArchitectsProject Role ArchitectProject Contact Michael CarlsonTitle Principal ArchitectAddress 901 Photo AvenueCity, State or Province, Country Anchorage, Alaska, USAPhone 907/563-8474

Joint Partner Firm: New Designs For LearningProject Role Educational PlannerProject Contact Dr. George CopaTitle Educational PlannerAddress 6058 Riverdale Road SouthCity, State or Province, Country Salem, Oregon, USAPhone 541/737-8201

Other Firm: Matanuska Susitna BoroughProject Role Project ManagementProject Contact Bob BechtoldTitle Project ManagerAddress 350 E. DaliaCity, State or Province, Country Palmer, Alaska, USAPhone 907/746-7417

Construction Firm:Project RoleProject ContactTitleAddressCity, State or Province, CountryPhone

Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Details

Project Name  Mat Su Career & Technical High School

City  Wasilla

State  Alaska

District Name  Mat Su Borough School District

Supt/President  George Troxel

Occupancy Date  August 2007

Grades Housed  9-12

 

Capacity(Students)  500

Site Size (acres)  30

Gross Area (sq. ft.)  76,550

Per Occupant(pupil)  153

gross/net please indicate  141%

 

Design and Build?  no

If yes, Total Cost:  

Includes:  

 

If no,  

Site Development:  $1,283,309

Building Construction:  $13,900,000

Fixed Equipment:  $332,054

Other:  $301,403

 

Total:  $15,816,766

Pathway AnatomyIntegration of Academic Spaces: spaces for core academics and specialized technical labs collocated throughout

the facility to support the integrated, academy style curriculum.Small Learning Communities: five career pathways comprise the current program with a maximum enrollment of

100 students each. Each pathway has separate interior and exterior entrances facilitating after hours use and convenient access for students, staff and business partners.

Informal Instructional Space: flexible instructional space provides individual work areas, small group work areas, large group instruction, teaching team offices, technical library, and storage. An important characteristic of this space is the ability to configure and reconfigure to meet the diverse and changing needs of each pathway.

Adaptable CoreDesigned for meaningful community interaction, the expansive and flexible MPR/Partners room creates an excellent after-hours venue where large gatherings can be easily accommodated while maintaining building security. An overhead door provides access for large equipment, vehicles and exhibits.

Transitioning throughout the day the Partners room provides supplemental support space for all Pathways as well as a gathering space for formal and informal school events.

Pathway LogosUnique color signatures and logos were created for each pathway enhancing their individual identities. One day each month students wear their pathway colors (t-shirts, cap and kakis) as an expression of their identification with their chosen pathway.

Flexible Planning ModuleFlexibility in planning and future adaptability are facilitated by the use of a planning grid based on a basic classroom module. The 3 bay module was developed on support a variety of configurations that allow the program to migrate from a classroom based system to a individual focused standards based system over time.

Flowing TexturesResponding to the Learning Signature’s reference to fluid, changing patterns of local glacial rivers was challenging within the projects tight budget constraints. Creating curved, flowing space was clearly not affordable and potentially not as suitable for the flexible interior functions. The strategies employed; exterior plaster patterns, arced entrance canopy, stained concrete floor patters and railing overlays were easily achievable with conventional materials and techniques, creating maximum impact with minimal cost.