Appoquinimink High School

Middletown, Delaware

Firm

BSA+A/Buck Simpers Architect + Associates, Inc.

Client

Appoquinimink School District

Area

210,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$42,000,000

Completion Date

08/2008

This 210,000-square-foot high school is designed for a capacity of 1,600 students. The plan is organized into wings that can be expanded to meet future growth. The design focused on light, acoustics and indoor air quality to provide maximum flexibility.
The design provides public access to the media center, administration offices, an 800-seat auditorium, and a 2,000-seat gymnasium after normal school hours for school and community programs. It also offers a creative solution for large-group activities by situating the cafeteria, commons area, auditorium and gymnasium adjacent to one another.
The separation of ninth-graders facilitates the transition from middle to high school. The state-of-the-art auditorium includes fly space and large-group instructional
areas situated in the back with movable partitions. The layout features a “Main Street” concept that links the building’s programmatic elements.
The building’s design incorporates green initiatives typified by the LEED rating system, including lighting-control monitors and high-efficiency plumbing fixtures. The lighting-control monitors saved the district more than $100,000 just during construction.
The building site gives consideration to natural light, prevailing winds and existing preserved wetlands. The building is positioned away from the road so traffic noise does not affect the learning environment.