Edna Karr High School
Designing a state-of-the-art campus for a high-performing school with an emphasis on collaborative interaction and visibility – keys to learning, safety and security.
Category
Education & Institutional
Location
Algiers, LA
Size
143,200 SF
Year
2020
The new Edna Karr High School, designed in a collaborative joint venture with VMDO Architects, sits in the heart of Algiers’ Aurora neighborhood. The school’s layout is divided into the west and east wings that wrap a central courtyard, and will accommodate a student population of 1,200.
The main academic west wing houses the core academic elements of the program (classrooms, science labs, media center, etc.), as well as the administrative offices and dining commons. The east wing is composed of performing arts and physical education, including a competition and practice gymnasium as well as a stage.
A Media Library is located at the heart of the school on the second floor, with a wall of north-facing windows overlooking the center courtyard to maximize natural daylighting. The Library is vertically connected to the first floor Reading Room / Lounge that is open to the students for reading, homework or getting organized during breaks.
The design integrates additional informal learning spaces, including break-out spaces outside of the classrooms and semi-private but observable front/back porch spaces that adjoin from classroom and teacher resource areas. These spaces facilitate connections to social learning through flexibility and teacher directed usage. They extend classrooms by enabling educators and students alike to shape their learning environments to suit the need of individuals and groups.
Recognition for Edna Karr High School
Awards
US Green Building Council
LEED Certification, LEED Gold
2021