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

  • University of Rhode Island, Gilbane Partner for Three New Residence Halls

    The University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I., recently announced a public-private partnership with construction development firm Gilbane, according to a news release. Gilbane will soon start construction on three new residence halls with a total of 1,100 beds: two with apartment-style suites in northwest campus, and a reconstruction of the Graduate Village Apartments for graduate students.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).