New DREAMS Program Introduced at Waipahu Intermediate School Campus

(DLR Group) June 2, 2014 ― DLR Group is partnering with the Hawaii Department of Education and Waipahu Intermediate School to design a facility to house the school’s new DREAMS program. DREAMS – Digital media, Robotics, Engineering/electronics, Animation, Music and Science - responds to Waipahu’s vision to provide 21st Century learning opportunities in a collaborative, student-led environment. Located in Waipahu on Oahu, the new facility will be part of the Waipahu Intermediate Campus, which currently serves 1,200 students in grades seven and eight.

DLR Group’s design will provide 30,000 SF of specialized learning spaces, including classrooms, instructional labs and flexible spaces for small or large group study. Partnerships are essential to the success of the DREAMS program. Currently, Waipahu Intermediate School has secured a joint partnership with ‘Olelo Community Media to contribute to the Digital Media curriculum.

“Waipahu Intermediate School’s DREAMS program is the epitome of 21st Century learning. DLR Group is thrilled to design the first facility of this type in Hawaii,” said DLR Group Principal Lisa Johnson, AIA. “Our design will feature abundant technology and a variety of flexible learning spaces that will allow students to follow their talents and passion.”

In addition to new learning spaces, DLR Group’s design will create a commons and faculty center to connect the campus and surrounding community. A new auditorium will allow the school to screen both student and community productions.

To achieve Waipahu’s sustainability goals and meet Hawaii CHPs criteria, a variety of sustainable energy approaches are being pursued, including natural daylighting, natural ventilation capability, photovoltaic panels for on-sire renewable energy production, and a high efficiency mechanical system.

Construction of the $10M facility is expected to begin in September 2015 and will be completed in summer of 2016.

About DLR Group
DLR Group is an interdisciplinary design firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design from offices coast-to-coast and in China. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment. Visit dlrgroup.com and follow us in Twitter.

Featured

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • Johns Hopkins Starts Construction on New Residence Hall, Dining Facility

    The Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., recently began construction on a new residence hall and dining facility, according to university news. The work involves demolishing the existing Alumni Memorial Residence Hall I, which was built in 1923, to make room for the new facility.

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.

  • Myrtle Grove Elementary

    Phased Construction Keeps Students on Campus During Rebuild

    When Escambia County School District needed to replace most of Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Pensacola, Fla., it had three distinct challenges: honor the school's legacy in the community, bring state-of-the-art learning environments to the county, and be seamlessly built on the same site as the active school campus.