Howard Gardner MI Charter School
Scranton, PA
The existing building is comprised of a central core that houses administrative offices, staff and faculty spaces, the large multi-purpose/cafeteria room, and some academic spaces. Additionally, there are three academic wings which house the student classrooms, as well as support learning spaces and faculty offices. The existing facility is 33,000 sf and has become too tight to accommodate all of the needs of the students, faculty and staff. Many classrooms have faculty sharing them, and some classrooms are located outside of the footprint of the main building.
In an effort to make appropriately spacious accommodations, the building will receive an approximately 14,000 sf, two-story addition that will house classrooms for both Upper and Senior students, as well as a new main office area and entry, a senior science classroom and general meeting and circulation space in the new main lobby and break out areas.
New parking and queuing areas were added to the campus to minimize the on street backup for cars and school buses. This new traffic flow and parking area also allows for some relief in the currently over full parking areas and allows a portion of the existing parking area to be converted into hard surface play areas with no vehicular traffic.\
Upon entering the building, students will be welcomed into a spacious lobby that displays the school’s mission, and in addition to the arrival and dismissal usage, will double as student break out and assembly space. Off the main lobby, access is available to the new classrooms within this addition or by use of the monumental stair or elevator. The second floor has a connector bridge to the existing building and renovated wing of approx. 6,500 sf which will house student counseling services, lower science, and art and music classrooms. This link will also provide a direct path linking the new addition to the central cafeteria space located at the heart of the existing building.