St. Helens Middle School

As a replacement middle school, the new building will deliver vastly improved education resources to the children of St. Helens, along with benefits for the greater community. Functionally, the middle school will allow the previously remotely located sixth grade program to join seventh and eighth grade under one roof. Designed in a horseshoe shape, each leg of the school connects at the middle in a glass walkway. A central courtyard serves as outdoor classroom, bringing students together in appreciation of nature. An interior “walking loop,” creates primary circulation between the two wings and around the courtyard, with intersections offering additional social spaces. In addition to general classroom spaces, there are also art, music, and CTE classrooms. The material selection and forms will result in a clean, modern building that echoes back to the familiar brick schoolhouse typology and fits with the Northwest aesthetic.