Site Features

The existing Oscar Smith Middle School located at 2500 Rodgers Street in the historic South Norfolk section of Chesapeake, Virginia, will be demolished and replaced with a new middle school designed by the Joint Venture of Rodriguez Ripley Maddux Motley and Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects in collaboration with Chesapeake Public Schools.

The project site encompasses approximately 22 acres and includes an existing 108,615 square foot building, athletic fields and playground areas. Existing student enrollment and staff is approximately 1,500 persons.

The project will be constructed in three (3) phases. The first phase (completed in July 2007) consisted of an Early Site Package to clear the existing stadium and ball fields, excavate and backfill the northern end of the site, and rough grade the proposed building pad. The second phase (starting August 2007) will include construction of the new school building and associated parking areas. Student safety and separation from vehicular traffic was considered in the placement of the Staff/Visitor Parking, Student Drop-off and Bus Parking areas. The proposed building will be 243,786 square feet and the proposed student enrollment will be approximately 1,500. The existing school will remain in operation while the new school building is being constructed. Upon completion of the new school building, the third phase will begin with demolition of the existing school building and placement of the remaining site work and athletic fields. New site features include a football and track stadium with accessible bleachers for 800, a competition softball field, and a practice/play field to support student and community functions.

Building Features

The concept for this middle school is the result of in-depth research, numerous school visitations and hours of design sessions with Chesapeake Public Schools personnel. After receiving input from teachers and staff, portions of the new 243,786 SF facility were based upon an existing Chesapeake middle school whose design and function are well liked.

A number of sustainable design features will be provided in this new facility, such as daylighting, rainwater catchment, light colored roof materials that reflect heat resulting in lower heating and cooling requirements, and occupancy sensors that keep lights turned off when rooms are not in use. Classrooms will include windows designed for daylighting, which research shows has a positive impact on student learning. Daylighting refers to the introduction of natural reflected light into the classrooms. The daylighting, while improving the academic experience, will also reduce building energy costs by minimizing or eliminating the need for artificial lighting during primary daytime use. Light fixtures with sensors will automatically adjust the artificial lighting levels in response to available daylight. This in turn allows for reduction in the initial sizing of mechanical equipment needed to cool the space. The Cafeteria and the Technology Labs will have light monitors on the roof for daylighting these large interior spaces.

Another major sustainable design component is the rainwater harvesting system which collects water from the roof of the school, passes it through a series of filters to remove particulate before storage in ground cisterns. The rainwater in the cistern is further filtered and injected with nitrogen prior to reuse for irrigation and flushing of toilets. Rainwater systems are economical, easy to use, and easy to maintain. It is estimated that this system will save between 3 and 4 million gallons of city water a year.

The school is organized around the idea of a school within a school concept and is broken down into three smaller "houses" on three floors, combined to form the Academic Wing, and is connected to the common public/activity areas as well as the "exploratory" subject area wing.

The purpose of these houses is to give the sense of a smaller school community within the larger school. Each house will be home to 450 students in one grade within the larger 1,350 student capacity facility. Each of the three houses will be assigned to a separate grade level (eighth graders will be placed on the first floor, seventh graders on the second and sixth graders on the third floor). The middle school approach allows students to stay within their house for a majority of the school day and provides teachers and Assistant Principals with the familiarity that is enjoyed in a smaller school. These smaller groupings of students provide many benefits for the students' educational experiences.

The public or activity portion of the facility is designed with the pedestrian mall approach that allows for a logical organization of different major functions while offering a means of pedestrian control. Two main corridors link the Academic Wing to central Administration and Guidance, Physical Education (Gymnasium), Cafeteria, Auditorium, Music and a Common Student Area. The Media Center is located in the middle of these two pedestrian links and is situated between the Academic Wing and a central Courtyard. The courtyard provides natural light to the interior of the building and is a visual link for school orientation. It is a secure outdoor environment that students can use as an extension to the Cafeteria, Media Center and Art Labs in nice weather to gather for social interaction without risk of unauthorized visitors.

The "exploratory" wing contains the program functions that are common to all grade levels. Some of these common spaces include the Computer and Distance Learning Labs, Foreign Language Labs, Technology Labs and Work and Family Studies Labs.

The Cafeteria, located between the Auditorium and Gymnasium and adjacent to the Courtyard is served by five serving lines. Students will be able to have lunch in the adjoining courtyard under a shaded trellis if desired. The cafeteria will seat 500 students and will include natural lighting.

The Media Center is provided with natural lighting and is centrally located to promote student participation. It is centered between the Academic Wing and the activities area in order to allow students easy access. The Media Center will house about 14,600 volumes of books.

The Gymnasium is a three court teaching space divided by retractable curtains and will seat approximately 820 when the bleachers are in the open position. An Auxiliary Gymnasium is provided as an additional teaching station and for other sporting events. Boy's and Girl's physical education locker rooms as well as Health classrooms are provided in this area.

The Auditorium will seat 750 and is adjacent to acoustically designed support spaces for the Band, Choral and Orchestra programs.

The facility will have state-of-the-art technology features. The building infrastructure will support both wireless and hardwire applications. All classrooms will be designed to operate in a wireless network environment. Portable laptop computer labs (carts) will be provided and stored in each of the three houses. In addition, each educational space will be equipped with an LCD projector in lieu of large monitors. The building will be supported by a central technology "head-end" room, dedicated electrical/data closets and a computer "help desk".

Building security has been considered through the strategic placement of Teacher Work Centers with views to corridors and at key intersections. Each house will have an Assistant Principal assigned to the students in that house. Their offices are decentralized (located remotely from the main administration) and placed on the main student thoroughfare and at the entrance to the house they serve. Security cameras will cover the interior of the building and the adjacent site.

Project Schedule

This project will be constructed in three (3) phases. The Early Site Preparation work (Phase 1 - completed July 2007) was broken out as a separate contract in order to expedite the overall Construction Schedule. The building contract (Phase 2 - started August 2007) will include construction of the new school building and associated parking areas. Substantial Completion for Phase 2 is scheduled for June 2009 (open to students in September 2009). Upon occupancy of the new Middle School, Phase 3 work to demolish the existing school building and completion of remaining site work and athletic fields will begin and is scheduled to be completed in December 2009.

Project Features

Site

The site is approximately 22 acres. A total of 199 parking spaces (41 Visitor parking spaces, 126 Staff parking spaces, 24 athletic field parking spaces and 8 accessible parking spaces) are provided. 25 bus parking spaces are also provided.

Building Size / Capacity

243,786 square feet (SF) to house 1500 students and 125 faculty and staff

Size

347,549 square feet (SF)

Academic Facilities

63 Classrooms and Labs including:

General Classrooms 51

Science Lecture Rooms/Labs 12

Each House is provided with a Teacher Work Center including workspaces, Assistant Principal's office, Conference Room, Manipulative Storage Rooms and Faculty Toilets. Student / Public Toilets and Custodial areas provided throughout the facility.

Administrative / Assembly Facilities

Media Center seats 136, contains 14,600 volumes of books

Auditorium seats 754 with Stage and Scenery Room

Cafeteria (Food Court) seats 500, with separate faculty dining and full-service Kitchen

Administration / Central Guidance Suite

Athletic Facilities

Football / Track Stadium, accessible bleachers for 800

Competitive Softball Field, Practice / Play Field, 1 each

Gymnasium / Auxiliary Gymnasium

Competition Basketball Court, seating for 820 (in Gymnasium)

Basketball / Volleyball Practice Courts (in Gymnasium and Auxiliary Gymnasium), 3 each

Weight Room

Boy's and Girl's physical education locker rooms