Harrison High School (Work in Progress)

Harrison, New Jersey

Firm

EI Associates, Architects & Engineers, PA

Client

New Jersey School Construction Corporation

Area

167,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$47,000,000

Completion Date

07/2006

Capitalizing on the opportunity to design a grass-roots urban high school, the architect incorporated a number of educational and community-focused features to foster involvement and enhance facility use.
From the public plaza, the main entrance allows direct access to an indoor recreational wing. The gymnasium, exercise room, dance room, pool, lockers and showers can be isolated for community use. The indoor pool opens up to an outdoor plaza during the summer.
Performance and recreational spaces are oriented to the outdoor public plaza. The music room opens to the outdoor plaza, serving as a stage for community and educational use, as well as to the auditorium, providing a stage area for large performances.
The public spaces include a controlled entrance to the auditorium, a gathering/display space and restrooms organized for after-hours use. An interior pedestrian spine connects the auditorium, cafeteria, media center, youth center, recreational wing and upper-level classrooms. A separate entrance provides evening access to the youth center.
The building incorporates LEED principles and sophisticated security and alarm systems.
The 10-acre site has space for play fields designed to accommodate football, soccer, softball and baseball. A recreational track encircles the synthetic turf field. Seating for 950 is provided on a bleacher building that incorporates lockers, changing rooms, a concession stand and storage.