Rowe Middle School is programmed for 1,350 students, with eight portable units for an ultimate capacity of 1,750 students and a staff of 150. Its academic wing is organized into three levels with four shared Learning Communities. These each feature core subject classrooms, administration offices for Assistant Principals and Counselors, and support spaces for each community such as storage rooms, collaboration spaces, planning rooms and restrooms. Large group instruction labs are shared by the Learning Communities, and circulation spaces are maximized to serve as instructional spaces, allowing learning to continue beyond the classroom walls. In addition, there is a “Community Bar” similar to Cypress-Park High School, which contains athletics, fine arts and CTE shop components. The front entry comprises of a secure entry vestibule and the main administrative offices as well as the library which was transformed into a Learning Lab, where technology, presentation and collaboration can thrive.
Site amenities include a running track, competition football/soccer field with press box, practice football/soccer field, practice baseball/softball backstops, shot put, discus, long jump and pole vault.
Auto drop-off and visitor parking areas are provided directly off the main entry, along with designated staff parking. A bus loop is around the staff parking which will be shared with the future elementary school.
The cafeteria is designed to accommodate the Elementary, Middle and High Schools. These are separated with folding walls that can be opened or closed depending on the day’s events. The kitchen is designed for maximum operational efficiency, while maintaining autonomy between the grade levels.
A shared central plant serves all three facilities. The building is designed large enough for all three facilities, but chillers and equipment will be added as facilities are added to the site.
Educational Village
The designs contained here are part of an Educational Village, whose Master Plan was originally developed during the design process for Cypress Park High School, which completed construction in 2016. An Educational Village is a multi-campus site where each individual school works in close connection with the other schools to provide for a Community of Learning. The schools within this site – an Elementary, Middle and High School – share facilities and resources in order to maximize the learning experience for each student. An example of this is the kitchen/cafeteria, which will be shared by all campuses.
During normal operations, each school has its own cafeteria; however, when joined together the site gains a large, multi-purpose facility that can be used for community gatherings, student performances, teacher trainings, and school events.
The Education Village is organized around a park which provides enhanced outdoor learning activities and serves as the center of the facility’s design. Master planning the site as an Education Village creates synergies that enhance the learning environment and provide multi-use, flexible shared facilities which, in turn, result in financial savings both initially and over the life of the facilities.