Vancouver School of Arts and Academics
Vancouver, Washington
Design team
Caroline Lemay (Managing Principal); Michael Davis (Design Principal); Alan Dodson (Project Architect); Deepa Bharatkumar (Project Manager)
The Vancouver School of Arts and Academics (VSAA) offers a unique educational experience, combining arts and academics for students in grades six to 12. The school’s Royal Durst Theatre, the primary venue for all-school events, proved insufficient to accommodate its 640 students and staff. Safety, security, and parking concerns further complicated day-to-day operations and larger community gatherings.
To overcome these challenges, VSAA designed a new two-story addition and entry building, creating a secure enclosed courtyard. This revamped main entry connects to the courtyard, which now houses a new outdoor theater, science lab, and the existing Peace Garden, offering safe outdoor learning spaces.
The addition increases student capacity by 200 and cleverly integrates a flexible black box theater with the commons area, using a large Sky Fold wall and telescoping bleachers. Alongside two general classrooms, two science classrooms, and several co-op spaces, the building program thoughtfully incorporates opportunities for students to display their artwork, including rotating gallery walls at the new entry. This approach reinforces the school’s dedication to nurturing the arts.
Additional Information
Capacity
600
Cost per Sq Ft
$507.00
Featured in
2023 Architectural Portfolio
Category
Renovation
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