Hord Coplan Macht is continuing our partnership with Park School. Following a comprehensive programming and planning effort that prioritized expanding and improving all the Upper and Middle School academic spaces, along with a reimagined and expanded main entry, HCM is now designing a new Science and Technology Wing.
The new 11,000 sf, two-story expansion serves as a visual backdrop to Park’s pond, connecting the existing academic spaces to the adjacent Athletic Center. The exterior design expresses Park’s unique progressive vision and philosophy, with a dynamic “butterfly” roof that provides natural light into the second-floor labs while directing rainfall to the demonstration stormwater management bioretention garden. The ample glazing, natural material palette, and massing create a new yet contextual design for the wing.
A new entry lobby provides at-grade access to the new wing as well as to the existing Athletic Center and Middle School academic spaces. The new Design Technology suite fronts the lobby, complete with design and engineering labs and wood and metal shops. Large doors provide access for material delivery and large student project movement. The DT Suite also accesses a new covered outdoor classroom, with views and access to both the pond and the nearby stream. The existing space next to the lobby is repurposed into a new Upper Science lab.
An open stair in the lobby leads to a second-floor collaboration studio, which then accesses four new Science labs and the existing Upper School academic spaces. The labs are paired and share a large operable wall, allowing for maximum flexibility and co-learning to occur. A large shared prep and storage room supports the labs, along with two project rooms, providing dedicated space for long-term student project activities. Along the corridor are seating areas for students to gather and work, complimenting the variety of seating and gathering areas in the large collaboration studio.
The project is being designed to achieve net-zero energy usage, with highly energy-efficient building systems and materials, and new solar panels to exceed the energy needs for the addition as well as be regenerative. A new multi-stop elevator provides full access to both the new addition and all levels of the existing academic wing. Gender-neutral restrooms are also provided within adjacent renovated spaces. It is expected to be complete for the 2023-24 school year.
