Harrison High School – Commons Areas Renovations

Since it was constructed in 1970, Harrison High School has seen its enrollment more than triple. During that time multiple additions and renovations expanded the school’s footprint, but did little to address inadequate and outdated interior commons areas.

Insufficient circulation space within original core areas of the school created choke points and wayfinding challenges. A 12-foot-wide main corridor fed into an undersized central student commons. A somewhat hidden secondary entrance separated the media center from student gathering areas.

To address these deficiencies, designers increased the main corridor’s width to 25 feet and incorporated new patterned terrazzo flooring (accented with school colors) that mirrors the ceiling design. Two under-used classrooms were removed to create an expanded student commons, where a raised platform stage is flanked by an 18-screen video wall. A reoriented media center entrance is more easily accessed, and inside, several small group study areas provide for abundant collaborative learning opportunities. Interior design features include cherry wood ceilings and wall grilles and matching wood-tone panel pilasters.

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