Q+ Architects Chapin Middle School project wins A4LE award
June 2, 2017
Quackenbush Architects + Planners announced that the firm has won a prestigious Association for Learning Environment (A4LE) award for its Chapin Middle School project in Lexington County. The award was presented April 3, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville, SC, during the organization’s Southeast regional conference.
Chapin Middle School, a 120,000-square foot design completed in 2015 and currently serving 800 students, features two classroom “houses” organized around a core of spaces that encourage flexible and collaborative learning. The design includes a central two-story spine enhanced with natural light from above. Each academic house has access to a secure exterior courtyard that expands the learning environment to the outdoors.
A4LE jurors praised the design layout and its overall “inviting space,” citing it as “rational…with clear delineation of community and academic space.” They noted how the
daylit common areas anchor the school’s collaborative areas and allow users to easily accommodate different learning layouts, such as with tablet computers and mobile desks and tables.
The jurors also commended how the school gym’s second-floor windows reinforce a connection to the academic wing. They referred to the “prime location” of the library and second-floor balcony above the school entrance as “lending weight to the importance of the space while boasting excellent views.” The athletic team rooms, they observed, “offer separation but also permit collaboration between levels.”
The school also includes a state-of-the-art media center and a full array of specialized science and art classrooms. Q+ ensured that the design provided for the future addition of a third classroom academy to accommodate a student capacity of 1,200.
The A4LE award recognizes buildings that demonstrate exceptional impact on the learning environment. A4LE members include professionals who use, plan, design, construct, maintain, equip and operate educational facilities. The Lexington/Richland Five District school was designed in collaboration with Perkins + Will’s K-12 studio.
“We’re honored to be recognized by A4LE for our work in educational design,” says Q+ President Doug Quackenbush, AIA LEED, AP. “Chapin Middle School has been an important part of our desire to contribute to the growth and educational mission of Lexington County schools.”
Quackenbush Architects + Planners
Quackenbush Architects + Planners is a full-service architecture and planning firm located in Columbia, SC. The firm specializes in institutional, civic, educational, and commercial projects. Its services span from building design to land planning to interior design. The firm’s portfolio includes projects for universities, cities, colleges, government agencies, school districts, and private clients. The team’s work reflects commitment to innovation, sensitivity to our regional context, and the richness that comes from collaboration with our clients and the community.
