Adirondack Middle School

Boonville, New York

Firm

MARCH Associates

Client

Adirondack Central School

Area

54,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$5,659,000

Completion Date

08/1999

The new Adirondack Middle School adjoins the existing high school. In this configuration, the district achieves economies by sharing common facilities and services. The centralized spaces include technology shops, music rooms, auditorium and kitchen. The common spaces are arranged for direct access from either the middle school or high school. Each school has its own gymnasium, cafeteria and library/media center.
The new building was designed around a middle school philosophy. Classrooms are clustered to support teaching in teams, and common academic and support spaces are the bridging elements between teams. The library/media center is the middle school’s focal point.
On the exterior, materials were selected for compatibility with the existing structure, while establishing a separate identity. The middle school’s prominent entrance leads to a lobby that can be supervised easily by administrative offices. The lobby and library/media center set the sense of purpose and place for the middle school.
The project also included new voice, video and data systems for every space.