The modernization of the 108,200 square foot Bard High School Early College, situated at the historic Malcolm X Elementary School site, is an emblem of educational and high-performance learning environment design achievement. This project aimed to create an innovative facility that would not only uphold Bard DC’s impressive record of a 98.4 percent graduation rate and an 82.4 percent associate degree attainment rate, but also enhance it.
As the Principal, Dr. Vanessa Anderson stated, “Bard’s motto is ‘A place to think.’ It is a place where students’ ideas are taken seriously and where they are expected to be serious about their ideas… The experience is rigorous and difficult; our expectations are high, but so is the level of support that we are prepared to provide.” Our team drew inspiration from the concept of a varied “learning landscape.” The design of the new school includes an assortment of innovative indoor and outdoor spaces that accommodate a wide gamut of educational activities. These spaces metaphorically and literally connect to Bard’s mission and vision.
Our design principles were developed through extensive interactions and conversations with faculty and administrators, allowing us to create a campus that inspires students to succeed in the 21st Century. Every individual and every corner of this campus fosters opportunities for Bard’s students, faculty, and administrators to engage, discuss, and collaborate. Bard sets a new benchmark for sustainable urban school design. It exemplifies how Net Zero Energy can be achieved with existing facilities, proving that small, impactful strategies can result in high-performing buildings. By keeping the structure of the existing building and creating a new envelope, we saved a significant amount of money and resources while enhancing the thermal performance of the building.
The new façade includes: • Enhanced daylighting in instructional spaces as well as the “heart” of the school • Reduced glare in the instructional spaces • Enhanced views of the campus and community • Enhanced thermal comfort • Resulting in healthier, higher-quality spaces where students and teachers can flourish. The central core of the building, previously a dark, open-plan space, has been transformed into the heart of the school, featuring “The Socratic Walk,” the school’s primary vertical circulation that embraces the heart and inspires the students about the possibilities present in the program.
The daylight-filled heart of the school now offers access to a flexible black box that opens up to become a forum for the entire school, the library, and a series of discovery commons fostering student collaboration. Access to daylight was a crucial consideration in our design. Perimeter windows provide views and ample daylight.
However, we recognized the need for alternate means of daylight harvesting to supplement the existing windows, ensuring every program element placed even at the geometric center of the plan has neutralized access to daylight. Bard DC showcases a unique blend of sustainable design, academic excellence, and community engagement. It is a testament to our commitment to creating educational spaces that are not just buildings but catalysts for learning and growth.
Category:Green ArchitectureYear:2024Location: Washington, D.C., USAArchitects:Perkins Eastman DC PLLC.Lead Architect:Mary Rose RankinClient:Bard Early CollegePhotographers:Joseph Romeo
