North Royalton Middle School

North Royalton, Ohio

Firm

GPD Associates

Client

North Royalton City School District

Area

238,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$18,700,000

Completion Date

09/1996

The fundamental goal was to provide an organized space to permit quiet solitary study, group interaction, easy location, inspection and use of materials, and a convenient traffic flow between areas.
Ideally, the space would function as a hub of information by bridging across interdisciplinary boundaries and creating an environment to inspire team participation, as well as offering an opportunity for hands-on learning and passive learning. To do this, the hub was literally translated into a circular form between classroom blocks permitting an adequate separation of age groups while maintaining access to the cross-section of available information and promoting solid foundations in technology literacy.
The mezzanine level at the core of the hub links the school to the community by allowing the community use of the meeting/study room, as well as a school media center. The school was designed to be flexible in its use of space, while catering to technology by locating the fixed elements at the perimeter and at the core of the circular form, liberating the space between.
The use of color was restricted to a small but rich palette, relying on forms, shapes and arrangement of elements to create aesthetic appeal.

Photographer: ©Maguire Photographics