1. Mountainside Middle School Mead, Washington New Construction Middle/Junior High School NAC|Architecture 2010 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture

2. Mountainside Middle School

4. Main Entry Community Environment: Designed to replace the district’s original aging middle school, Mountainside Middle School was located farther north, reflecting the growth patterns in the Mead area. The semi-rural nature of the surrounding communities necessitated the building’s role as a community focal point. Heavy after-hours and weekend use is the rule rather than the exception.

5. Hallway Community Environment: Considerable planning went into the requirements for community use of the sports fields, gym, library and other meeting spaces. The energy and passion shown by the planning participants to ensure a long-lasting, economically viable learning environment resulted in a community icon for generations to come.

6. Science Lab Learning Environment: The new 115,260-square-foot Mountainside Middle School houses 17 mainstream classrooms; two options classrooms; six science classrooms; an art room; band and choral suites; three resource rooms with separate DLC suite and support spaces; a library/media center; two separate gymnasiums with adjacent locker facilities, fitness room, weight room, and wrestling/climbing room; industrial technology shop and classroom; and various educational and building support facilities. The building was designed with a team teaching concept in mind. The educational wings at the east portion of the building are arranged in five distinct teams, each consisting of three general classrooms and a science room.

7. Library Learning Environment: This academic half of the building is separated from the more noisy/public areas such as the gymnasiums, commons/cafeteria, music, and technical education spaces via a large north-south corridor extending through the entire building. Higher than normal classroom ceilings together with full-height windows allow deeper penetration of natural light without the risk of glare. Brick and concrete block materials emphasize the district’s commitment to long-term value and contribute to the timeless design.

8. South Elevation Physical Environment Natural buffers of trees and vegetation line the entire east and west sides of the site. The building sets back approximately 350 feet from the road, which allows for landscaping and visual relief from vehicle traffic, preserving the semi-rural nature of the community. Outside site improvements include an eight-lane track with a football/soccer field contained within, two baseball fields, two softball diamonds, shot-put area, and a full-size soccer/P.E. field.

9. Courtyard Physical Environment: The site includes a dedicated bus loading lane with a separate area for special-needs buses, a separate lane for student drop-off/pick-up, and parking for 300 cars to accommodate event parking.

10. Reception Desk Planning Process: A Planning Symposium was the first step in the design process for the new middle school. Facilitated by the architect, this symposium brought together various Mead School District staff, parents, administrators, and community members. The symposium succeeded as an introduction to the planning process, energizing the participants about the upcoming design work and giving them an opportunity to share their insights and let their voices be heard.

11. Upper Hallway Planning Process: The symposium was intended to inspire the attendees through various sessions devoted to new concepts in education, technology, and school design. It was also intended to identify and prioritize some of the key issues with regard to site design and building organization. Group discussions covered topics such as schools’ community identity, community use of schools both now and in the future, ideal learning environments through various perspectives, and more practical issues such as what types of things work and don’t work in schools today.

12. Floor Plan

13. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2010 Project Data Submitting Firm :NAC|Architecture Project RoleArchitect of Record Project ContactThomas Golden, AIA, LEED AP TitlePrincipal Address1203 West Riverside Avenue City, State or Province, CountrySpokane, WA USA Phone(509) 838-8240 Joint Partner Firm:N/A Project Role Project Contact Title Address City, State or Province, Country Phone Other Firm:N/A Project Role Project Contact Title Address City, State or Province, Country Phone Construction Firm:Lydig Construction Project RoleGeneral Contractor Project ContactVince J. Campenella TitleSenior Project Manager Address11001 East Montgomery City, State or Province, CountrySpokane, WA USA Phone(509) 534-0451

14. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2010 Project Details Project Name Mountainside Middle School City Mead State Washington District Name Mead School District Supt/President Dr. Thomas Rockefeller Occupancy Date September 2008 Grades Housed 7-8 Capacity(Students) 750 Site Size (acres)32 acres Gross Area (sq. ft.) 115,260 SF Per Occupant(pupil) 153.68 SF/pupil (net) gross/net please indicate Design and Build? No If yes, Total Cost: Includes: If no, Site Development:$25,200,000 Building Construction:$29,300,000 Fixed Equipment:$800,000 Other: Total:$55,300,000