Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Design Firm Completes Six Schools in 2.5 Years for Maryland K–12 District

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/27/24

The Prince George’s County Public School System in Maryland recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its sixth new school in two and a half years, according to a news release. The Feb. 21 ceremony marked the completion of The Colin L. Powell K–8 Academy, which opened in November 2023. The other five schools (Sonia Sotomayor Middle School, Drew-Freeman Middle School, Hyattsville Middle School, Kenmoor Middle School, and Walker Middle School) opened in September 2023.

The six schools are part of a 30-year, public-private partnership among the Prince George’s County Education & Community Partners consortium. The consortium’s members include developers Fengate Asset Management and Gilbane Development Company, design-builder Gilbane Building Company, architecture firm Stantec, and facility services provider Honeywell, the news release reports.

“Our design of these innovative learning environments reflects the needs of a diverse student population in Maryland. We were able to create engaging education spaces that feel connected, yet each offer their own unique aesthetic,” said Stantec Project Lead Michael Scarani. “By delivering in half the typical time, we were able to meet the district’s ambitious goals to get its students into new, modern classrooms and help PGCPS address each of its communities’ space needs.”

Each school includes features like grade-specific academic wings; media labs; STEM and STEAM labs; production studios; an indoor gymnasium; performance stages; and band, music, and dance rooms. The facilities include room for at least 1,200 students each for a total added capacity of more than 8,000 students.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • St. Lucie County, Fla., Breaks Ground on New K–8 School

    St. Lucie Public Schools in St. Lucie County, Fla., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new K–8 school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., for the design of the upcoming Ft. Pierce K–8 School, which comprises six buildings covering 215,000 square feet.

  • Wyoming District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wy., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Mountain View Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility has an estimated completion date of summer 2028, and it will have the capacity for 650 students in fifth and sixth grade.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey

    Spaces4Learning recently launched the 2026 Facilities and Construction Brief Survey, which collects data on the previous year’s K–12 and higher education construction projects nationwide.