Stratford Hall - Middle Years Program

Stratford Hall Middle School houses teaching spaces, a “Learning Commons”, science labs, a high school-sized gymnasium, a rooftop outdoor play area and associated administration areas.

With space at a premium on this urban site – as it was for the Primary Years Program (PYP) building – we had to “stack” the program vertically to create a model of "eco-density". The gymnasium is located underground and the outdoor space is located on the top of the building. Traditional classrooms are replaced by student “Learning Studios”, reminiscent of graduate student seminar rooms. Wireless network/internet connections allow students to share documents and connect online throughout the building, in lieu of carrying heavy text books.

A high degree of transparency within the building supports IB learning goals, where passive supervision and observation of learning activities is ongoing. The glass-fronted learning studios also ensure views to the outside from all parts of the building while pleasantly flooding the interior with natural daylight. Fireplaces on each teaching level enhance areas for quiet study and socialization by creating a more relaxed, domestic environment for students and staff.

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