Puerto Rico High School Re-Envisioned Following Hurricane

Wesleyan High SchoolWith the intention to integrate building design techniques and technologies that not only comply with needs, but also respond to the human experience, building life cycle and operational efficiency, Fosis Corp. has started a new project which will re-create Wesleyan Academy's high school building.

Along with many other buildings in Puerto Rico, the Academy high school building was destroyed due to Category 5 hurricane Maria. Consequently, Fosis proposed a project to respond to the needs of high school staff and students.

Fosis cofounder and Principal Designer, Carlos Martinez Alfaro, explained "the project aims to relate with the day-to-day life of the student. Our intention is to achieve a space that stimulates learning and creates a sense of identity."

The design intends to promote natural light and ventilation, and scheme spaces that will adjust to students and the administration while integrating the existence gym facility with the new construction.

Designing a building that creates a unique identity while respecting the campus scale and administrative vision and helps create multidisciplinary integration are major goals of the new project. Nevertheless, the design seeks to provide an enriching student life experience, increase student retention and loyalty while attracting new students.

With an initial investment of $1.5 million, the construction is expected to begin in January 2018 and be completed by August 2018.

Featured

  • Esports are Growing in Popularity

    Video games and esports are a popular social hobby, and it’s one that’s accessible to a wide variety of physical ability levels. Some esport student-athletes have started to earn scholarship opportunities, and high schools are beginning to form teams equipped with the same degree of resources as their physical sports teams. However, the two have very different needs.

  • Phoenix High School Completes First Phase of Campus Renovations

    Metro Tech High School, part of the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) in Phoenix, Ariz., recently announced the completion of the first stage of a campus renovation project, according to a news release. The school reopened a series of public-facing business operations spaces including credit union, daycare, floral, cosmetology, and culinary services. It also includes new CTE learning spaces for the school’s nursing assistant, pharmacy, and sports medicine programs.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • DLR Group Announces New Mid-Atlantic Higher Education Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has promoted Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to the role of higher education leader in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. Gaither has served with the firm for more than 20 years, most recently as the national higher education business development leader.