Alston Ridge Middle School

Design Team
Skinner Farlow Kirwan Architecture: Brad Farlow (Architect), Ben Skinner (Construction Administrator), Mary Kathryn Washington (Interior Designer), Will Daughtridge (Designer), Jerry Harrison (Designer); CLH Design: Keith Downing (Landscape Architect), Ken Loring (Civil); Lynch Mykins: Dan Donecker (Structural Engineer), Michael Grant (Structural Designer); Progressive Design Collaborative: Scott Ennis (Mechanical Engineer), Michael Schulman (Plumbing Designer), John Tomaszewski (Electrical Designer); Atlas Engineering: Kelli Wilcox (Certified Roofing Designer); Aiken Cost Estimating: Brad Aiken (Cost Estimator)

Skinner Farlow Kirwan Architecture designed Alston Ridge Middle School to incorporate 21st-century teaching pedagogy. This design features collaborative spaces, a theater, and two separate gymnasiums.

Through the careful design of spaces, the architects were able to create education pods within the school. Each grade level is divided into two main areas, and every area has direct and clear pathways to extracurricular areas and elective classrooms. This limits distracting encounters between students in different teams and age groups, and reduces ambient corridor noise while maintaining a small-community atmosphere despite a core capacity of 1,592 year-round students.

All classrooms are situated around the building’s perimeter, and large windows are placed to take advantage of daylighting. Energy-efficient electrical and mechanical systems reduce energy costs. The school also features a secure entrance vestibule to limit outside visitors.

A second middle school based on this prototype is under construction in Wake County. When the construction was most recently bid, the cost was under budget, saving taxpayer dollars.

Additional Information

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