Heights High School, Addition and Renovation

Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Firm

BSHM architects, inc.

Client

Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District

Area

356,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$75,000,000

Completion Date

08/2017

Eric Hanson, Scott Pease

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Design Team
Gary Balog, FAIA; Brett Hendricks, RA; Byron Manchester AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, A4LE; John Orsini, AIA; Michael Ruscitti, AIA, NCARB, LEED GA; Timothy Thomas, AIA, LEED AP

Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District provides the vision and commitment to prepare students for life.

The district’s mission, focused on challenge and engagement, was the basis for the project. Each element of the new high school provides students, staff, and community with opportunities for growth; they complement one another. The environment at Heights High School provides a place for the district’s mission of success.

The original high school was constructed in 1926 and has received a multitude of additions throughout its history. Because of the non-conforming nature of those additions, changes in technology, and the district’s desire for an improved educational delivery system, the project includes partial building demolition, and a 183,000-square-foot interior renovation of the building’s historic 1926 core. All interior finishes, doors, windows, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical and technology systems were replaced to accommodate contemporary instructional models. The building also received 173,000 square feet of additions to house the district’s career tech programs, additional classrooms, physical education spaces, a new pool and fine and performing arts facilities. The project used Student Centered Learning Environments in numerous academic departments. The high school sits on two city blocks in the Cleveland Heights community and presented a challenge for all aspects of design and construction. The building was being planned as “net-zero-energy ready” and has an HVAC system that uses hybrid geothermal and gas-fired equipment. The opportunities associated with the renovations and addition returned the building to its original grandeur. The building has received LEED Gold certification.

Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District leadership and educational direction is at the forefront of the success of Heights High and its architecture. The team had a challenge of preserving the 1926 structure while enabling the district to teach in 2017 and beyond. Leadership was not limited to education; it included all members of the Tiger Nation. Heights High educates all, promotes visibility and provides an environment based on tradition, history and memory.

Additional Information

Associated Firm

Gilbane Building Company (CM); Karpinski Engineering (MEPT, LEED, and Energy Modeling); BrainSpaces, Inc. (Educational Planning); Robert P. Madison International (CA); Seidler Engineering (Structural); Bedell Tucci LLC (Civil); studioTECHNE (Architecture); McFarland, Kistler & Associates (Food Service Design); Behnke (Landscape Architecture); NV5 (formerly The Sextant Group)(Acoustical); Brandstetter Carroll (Aquatics)