Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

High School Media Center Sees Modernization into Learning Commons

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/18/21

The Watchung Hills Regional High School District in Warren, N.J., recently partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., to renovate the Watchung Hills Regional High School Media Center into a top-of-the-line learning commons area. The Learning Commons serves as an active learning space that accommodates up-to-date technology and a wide variety of learning styles.

“The project has been a great success and created some amazing spaces for our students. We began with a vision, and the result is even better than expected—from the layout to the furniture to the colors, it all looks great,” said Elizabeth C. Jewett, Ph.D., Watchung Hills Regional High School District superintendent.

Watchung Hills Regional High School Media Center

New amenities include flexible spaces for teacher- and student-led instruction and collaboration; instructional spaces and quiet spaces; a podcast room, a TV studio, and a VR lab; Makers technology including 3D printers; and a café. The space also features moveable walls that encourage active learning.

“It was truly a collaborative effort by all involved with creative financing that resulted in a net-zero impact to taxpayers,” said Timothy Stys, the district’s business administrator. “Spiezle listened to everything we were trying to achieve in that space and successfully incorporated all aspects of our requirements.”

“Partnering with the Watchung Hills Regional High School District to create a refreshed, inspired learning space has been an honor,” said Steven Siegel, Principal of Spiezle. “This space and project have been a huge success, and we know this new environment will help students and faculty thrive for years to come. Education is one of our core markets, and we are happy to construe our thoughts and incorporate trends to design and build impactful spaces.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.