Montabella Middle School

Montabella Middle School’s design focuses on shaping and forming the educational environment for the transitioning adolescent. As a bridge between the elementary and high school experience, this building serves grades 6 to 8. Three separate grade-level academic wings feature combined classrooms, science rooms and a presentation space, and provide an independent identity for each grade.
Shared academic support spaces, including a media center, projects lab and tech-ed classroom, are situated centrally between the academic wings and offer socialization for children of different ages. Students use the multipurpose cafetorium to gather before and after school, during the lunch period, and for school assemblies and performances. In this unique multiuse design, the stage is centered between the cafeteria and music room, allowing expansion and flexibility of use from both connected spaces.
The exterior building design expresses the individuality of the grade-level wings, and features durable materials such as terrazzo, burnished block and split-face block to serve as a linking element to the building’s spaces. The translucent exposure of the media center promotes a connection to the community.

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