A New Courtyard Offers
Ultimate Flexibility

Ashland Middle and TRAILS Outdoor School

The Ashland Middle School and K-8 TRAILS Outdoor School shared the same building initially, which created conflicts and inefficiencies. Soderstrom provided master planning and programming for the entire campus. Teaming with local architecture firm arkitek, we developed a design for both schools to remain on site independently, while keeping the culturally important aspects and identity of each intact and prioritized.

To modernize Ashland Middle School, the extensive renovation and new construction included new classrooms, career technical spaces, site-based special programs wing, administration and office areas, repurposing the original gym as a multi-purpose Media Center / Library, seismic upgrades, and mechanical system and indoor air quality improvements.

Ashland Middle School also has many students who skateboard and use scooters at lunch, so we specifically designed a new courtyard to support those activities. This outdoor area serves multiple functions, from flexible learning to social and gathering space.

The TRAILS Outdoor School project focused on providing the K-8 school with a distinct identity, autonomy, and access to outdoor space that is key to the school’s programs. This involved separating and renovating a class­room wing of the existing middle school to create a new home for the Outdoor School and its innovative programs. The TRAILS focus on the outdoors is supported by an oversized covered play area that incorporates a climbing wall.