ERNIE PYLE MIDDLE SCHOOL - FINE ARTS RENOVATION

In response to a decline in student enrollment, Ernie Pyle Middle School (EPMS) made a conscious decision to vamp up their art program. The goal of the renovation and addition to the school's fine arts building was for the project to serve as a catalyst for this effort. Baker A+D worked closely with Albuquerque Public Schools, EPMS, and the surrounding community to develop a design response that would evoke a modern-day fine arts program and become the new 'face' of the campus on the busy northeast corner.

The design team chose to utilize the 'bones' of the existing building while adding another 4,000 sf of new classroom space, music practice rooms, restrooms, office space and storage. Existing fenestrations were enlarged and, along with north facing light monitors, bring ample daylight into the four main classrooms. A minimal color palette allows the student work to take center stage while transparency throughout allows for interaction among the different programs and the remaining school population.

Other design elements include a permanent outdoor stage which sits adjacent to the music and drama classrooms which allows for alternative practice space and a location for public performances. The clearly marked main entry sits under a custom portal which runs the length of the building and provides shade for new tiered concrete bancos where students can gather or await pick-up after school. The portal also enhances the now direct circulation path that runs between the main classroom building and the cafeteria improving the overall campus circulation.

The project was completed in January of 2016 and, along with the completion of a new Baker A+D designed 6th grade classroom building, is on track to reach LEED Gold Certification.