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

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

Digital Edition