Forest Hills Northern High School, Project NEXT

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Firm

GMB Architecture + Engineering

Client

Forest Hills Public Schools

Area

37,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$8,000,000

Completion Date

12/2021

John D’Angelo Photo

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Forest Hills Northern High School offers its students a new way of learning through a project-based program called Project NEXT, a four-year parallel path program that was driven by a vision to provide students with hands-on learning. Supporting a program that prepares students for life through soft skills like communication, teamwork, public speaking and independent thought was central to the design. The spaces are intended to be multipurpose, flexible, and connected to achieve the program’s vision. Students in the program must identify and propose solutions to real-world problems, so spaces that fuel collaboration and creativity are essential. Redesigning the school’s west wing to accommodate those needs started with converting a courtyard into a central learning commons. Next to the commons, each grade level has its own pod of four classrooms that can be interconnected for collaboration and co-teaching as needed. One of the goals of project-based learning is to create cross-pollination between disciplines and build cohesion between curriculums. Labs were added for woodworking, culinary arts, chemistry, biology, and other life skills.

Additional Information

Associated Firm

Owen-Ames-Kimball

Cost per Sq Ft

$216.00

Featured in

2023 Educational Interiors Showcase

Interior category

Interior Renovation

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Product suppliers specified

Carpet by Shaw

Brick/Masonry by Belden Brick

Ceilings by USG

Door Hardware by Allegion

Ceramic Tile by Atlas Concorde

Doors by Pioneer Industries

Insulation by Guardian

Movable Partitions/Walls by Hufcor

Paint/Wallcoverings by Benjamin Moore

Plumbing by Kohler

Plumbing by Sloan Valve

Plumbing by Chicago Faucets

Roofing by Carlisle SynTec

Skylights by Kalwall

Windows by Tubelite

Lighting & Accessories by Focal Point

Lighting & Accessories by Lumenwerx

Emergency Lighting by Acuity Brands Controls

Fire/Life-Safety Systems by SimplexGrinnell

Fire/Life-Safety Systems by Edwards Systems Technologies

Locks by Medeco

Classroom Furniture by Steelcase

Classroom Furniture by V/S America

Classroom Furniture by Smith Systems

Multipurpose Areas Furniture by Steelcase

Multipurpose Areas Furniture by V/S America

Multipurpose Areas Furniture by Smith Systems

Multipurpose Areas Furniture by Allsteel

Science Furniture by V/S America

Drinking Fountains by Elkay

Washroom Accessories by American Specialties

Washroom Fixtures by Chicago Faucets

Washroom Fixtures by Kohler

Washroom/Shower Partitions by American Specialties

Communications Systems by Bogen Communications

Clocks/Time Management by SimplexGrinnell

HVAC Units by Trane

HVAC Control Devices by Siemens Building Technologies

HVAC Control Devices by Ruskin

IAQ Devices by Titus

ADA/Compliance Equipment by American Specialties

Lockers by AMP

Whiteboards / Markerboards / Chalkboards by Cig Jan

Whiteboards / Markerboards / Chalkboards by Koroseal