Willie L. Brown, Junior Middle School

Built on a tight, urban site on a hilly slope, this school was once the worst in the district. With the new facilities, students will now learn in vibrant, state-of-the-art educational environments. We worked closely with the school district to identify opportunities for enhancement and renovation in their existing design. One of the largest areas for improvement we targeted was circulation and wayfinding because it afforded the most comprehensive design response and provided the best value to the District. We re-worked a complicated circulation and wayfinding problem to find a solution that reduced unnecessary structure and complicated interior and exterior detailing. We also increased day-lighting and visibility, provided a better sense of security, and a created a more welcoming entry experience for students, staff, faculty, and the community. In addition to these changes, we enhanced audiovisual, structural, and mechanical systems.