preliminary plans presentation walt whitman high school … · 2019-02-12 · total 261,295 square...

Preliminary Plans Presentation

Walt Whitman High School

Addition

Prepared for

Montgomery County Board of Education

February 2019

This page intentionally left blank.

Preliminary Plans Presentation

Walt Whitman High School Page 1 RRMM Lukmire Architects

Walt Whitman High School Addition

7100 Whittier Blvd. Bethesda, Maryland 20817

Montgomery County Board of Education

Mrs. Shebra L. Evans President Mrs. Patricia O’Neill Vice President Ms. Brenda Wolff Member Ms. Jeanette E. Dixon Member Dr. Judith Docca Member Ms. Karla Silvestre Member Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski Member Ms. Ananya Tadikonda Student Member

Montgomery County Public Schools Administration

Dr. Jack R. Smith Superintendent of Schools Mr. James Song Director, Department of Facilities Management Mr. Seth P. Adams Director, Division of Construction Mr. Dennis F. Cross Acting Facilities Manager, Division of Construction Ms. Shiho C. Shibasaki Facilities Project Manager, Division of Construction Ms. Deborah Szyfer Facility Planner, Division of Capital Planning

Facility Design Process Engagement


RRMM Lukmire Architects Page 2

Involvement

The preliminary plans for the Walt Whitman High School (WWHS) renovation and addition project were developed based on the educational specifications prepared by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Through a series of work sessions with Montgomery County Public Schools administration, the staff at Walt Whitman High School, and the community, several design options were developed and evaluated. The proposed plans presented herein were reviewed and subsequently modified in accordance with recommendations and suggestions received during the schematic design work sessions.

Participants in Facility Design Process

Dr. Robby Dodd Principal Walt Whitman High School Nancy Mornini Staff Walt Whitman High School Kristi McAleese Staff Walt Whitman High School Neal Poll Staff Walt Whitman High School Libby Hillard School Business Administrator Walt Whitman High School Alexis Mazur Media Specialist Walt Whitman High School Sheryl Freedman Staff Walt Whitman High School Rebecca Zatz Staff Walt Whitman High School Diane Long Staff Walt Whitman High School Danielle Fus Elected Facility Representative Walt Whitman High School Michelle Lipson Staff Walt Whitman High School Suzy Johnson Social Studies Resource Teacher Walt Whitman High School Kari Wislar Resource Counselor Walt Whitman High School Anne Chiasson Staff Development Teacher Walt Whitman High School Linda Leslie English Resource Teacher Walt Whitman High School Don DeMember Science Resource Teacher Walt Whitman High School Jim Kuhn Math Resource Teacher Walt Whitman High School Liza Aronie Parent & President Choral Boosters Walt Whitman High School Jeff Kottmeier Parent Walt Whitman High School Bestsy Dodson Pyle Drama Parent Coordinator Walt Whitman High School

Facility Design Process Engagement (continued)


RRMM Lukmire Architects Page 2A

Lisa London Community Member Walt Whitman High School Sherri Gingrich Science Teacher Walt Whitman High School Ilissa Flamm Community Member Walt Whitman High School Sally MCarthy Cluster Representative Walt Whitman High School Kafu Shimomura Student Walt Whitman High School Areille Grill Community Member Walt Whitman High School Amy Strent Community Member Walt Whitman High School Sammy Strent Student Walt Whitman High School Calia Chay Student Walt Whitman High School Matthew Millin Student, Drama Club President Walt Whitman High School Emily Mayo Student, Shakespeare Club Walt Whitman High School Jill Chenoe Parent, Pyle MS PTSA Cluster Rep, Former Drama Boosters Pres. Karen Roman Pyle MS PTSA President Walt Whitman High School Jason Sartori Parent, Cluster Coordinator Walt Whitman High School Sandy Zuylen Parent, Wood Acres ES- Whitman Cluster Rep Serena Moscarella Student, Geo Club Walt Whitman High School Bob Erdman Parent Walt Whitman High School Meredith Roxas-Murray PTSA Walt Whitman High School Jill Chenok Parent, Pyle PTSA Walt Whitman High School Lisa London Parent Walt Whitman High School Cristin Hackel Parent, Whitman HS & Pyle MS Walt Whitman High School Courtney Museman Parent Walt Whitman High School Betsy Dodson Parent Coordinator, Pyle MS Drama Walt Whitman High School Mark Sidorczuk Parent Walt Whitman High School Matthew Byrne Parent Walt Whitman High School Sheila Bruch Parent Walt Whitman High School Emily Dupree Parent Walt Whitman High School Susan Mordan Parent Walt Whitman High School Dennis F. Cross Acting Facilities Manager, Division of Construction MCPS Shiho C. Shibasaki Facilities Project Manager, Division of Construction MCPS Deborah Szyfer Facility Planner, Division of Capital Planning MCPS


RRMM Lukmire Architects

Page 3

Project Information

Background/History

Location: 7100 Whittier Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817

Cluster: Walt Whitman Cluster

History and Square Footage 1962 Original Building Demolished of Existing Building: 1980 Addition 24,000 square feet

1992 Addition 208,450 square feet 1999 Addition 5,320 square feet 2002 Addition 8,300 square feet 2002 Addition 15,225 square feet

Total 261,295 square feet

Site Size:

Program Capacity:

30.67 acres

1,866

Number of Relocatable Classrooms: 8

Walt Whitman High School currently serves students from Grades 9 - 12. It shares the site with the former Whittier Woods Elementary School and the adjacent Whittier Woods local park, owned by Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC). Enrollment projections for Walt Whitman High School show a large increase within its current boundaries. Once the addition is complete, the projected enrollment will be accommodated. The Whittier Woods Elementary School, as well as the previous science classroom addition to the high school, will be demolished and replaced with the new addition along with approximately 130 parking spaces. The classrooms contained in the previous addition and being utilized in the Whittier Woods Elementary School will be replaced as part of this project. No site improvements will impact the MNCPPC property. The project is scheduled to be completed by September 2021.



Page 3A

Project Information (continued)

Educational Program Objectives

The purpose of this project is to provide needed the capacity to Walt Whitman High School. The addition will increase the capacity of Walt Whitman High School to 2,262 seats. The future master-planned addition will bring the capacity to 2,700 seats.



Page 3B




Page 3C


Educational Program Objectives

The objective of the proposed addition is to construct an addition to increase the program capacity of Walt Whitman High School to 2,262. The addition will include:

• 18 standard classrooms

• drama classroom

• support spaces

• social and emotional services suite

• special education spaces

• 5 science laboratories

• computer science laboratory

• career child development suite

• digital art room

• small ensemble / keyboard laboratory

• 2 technology education classrooms

• multipurpose laboratory

• commons area to expand the student dining

• storage rooms

• toilet facilities

Interior renovations to the existing school also are part of this project. The objective of the proposed interior renovations is to convert standard classrooms into science laboratories to create a science department on one floor and provide science laboratories which may be used during the construction of the addition. Those displaced classrooms will be relocated in the new addition. In addition, two classrooms on the first floor will be renovated into a dance room to provide needed physical education space. Part of the existing child development suite and adjacent spaces will be converted into standard classrooms and a resource room for the School Community Based and Learning for Independence special education programs. Existing spaces on the second and third floors will be renovated into a computer laboratory. Existing spaces in the administration suite will be renovated into two counselor’s offices and the Principal’s office will be included in the project as add alternates.

The addition will be designed in accordance with current educational specifications. The project will provide a cost effective, energy efficient, and safe facility to meet the needs of the school.

The design also provides for a future master-planned addition. The master-planned addition will bring the program capacity to 2,700 by constructing an addition including 15 classrooms, a new technology education laboratory, and 4 science laboratories.



Page 3D


The building design goals include the following:

Provide a new three-story classroom wing Renovate existing below-grade classrooms, located on the first floor, into additional physical education spaces Renovate third floor classrooms in the existing school into science laboratories to expand the science department Create a flexible commons space for students to be used as dining space and performance space to support the robust music,

drama, and arts programs Incorporate sustainable design principles Provide natural daylight into all of the new teaching spaces Provide an addition that is integrated into the circulation patterns of the existing school Plan for a future addition and renovation to increase the capacity to 2,700 students

The site design goals include the following:

Increase the number of parking spaces for staff and students Move student drop-off traffic from Whittier Blvd Separate bus traffic, car traffic, and parking Incorporate sustainable design principles Meet storm water management regulations Plan for the future master-planned addition



Page 3E


Educational Specification – Addition



Page 3F


Educational Specification – Interior Renovation



Page 3G


Educational Specification – Master Planned Addition/Renovations



Page 3H


Site Design

Walt Whitman High School is situated on a 30.67-acre property located at 7100 Whittier Blvd in Bethesda, Maryland. The site is bounded to the north, south and east by residential development, and on the west by MNCPPC park land. A one-story wing of the existing school and the former Whittier Woods Elementary School will be demolished to accommodate the addition. The proposed area for additional parking will be utilized for contractor staging during construction and will be isolated from school operations. Temporary portable classrooms will be utilized as classroom swing space during construction.

A new student drop-off drive will be added parallel to Whittier Blvd. to relieve congestion created by parents lined up on the public street. A new parking lot of approximately 130 spaces will be added with access from Whittier Blvd. to be used to resolve the lack of sufficient parking on site. The vegetation separating the school property from the neighbors on the north will be retained and will continue to provide a visual buffer. The existing fire truck access drive will remain as is. Due to the increase in impervious area, stormwater facilities will be provided to meet current regulations.



Page 3I


Building Design

General Description:

Walt Whitman High School is a three-story structure with interior courtyard. All core functions, including the main administration office, instructional library, gymnasium, dining and kitchen, and auditorium are located on the first floor. The main entrance is located in the southern side of the first floor. Due to the site topography, the first floor of the existing school is below grade, so connections can only be made to the new addition at the second floor and third floor.

Designed to meet the MCPS educational specifications, the proposed addition is a three-story wing on the east side of the existing school along Whittier Blvd. The proposed addition will be constructed on grade and will connect to the existing school on the second and third levels only. However, it will have a connection to the existing school through stairs to the fourth floor of the addition. Throughout the report, we refer to the floors in the proposed addition as second, third, and fourth, to indicate where the proposed addition connects to the existing school. The addition is organized as follows:

Second Floor:

• child development

• multipurpose lab

• technology education laboratories

• digital art room

• music

• drama

• standard classrooms

• commons area

Third Floor:

• social & emotional services suite

• student government office

• science laboratories

• storage

Fourth Floor:

• standard classrooms

• testing rooms

• computer laboratory

• special education suite

The scope of work also includes renovation of existing spaces on the first, second, and third floors. On the first floor, the renovation of the dance room and athletic support spaces will be achieved by renovating two existing classrooms and a support room. On the second floor, existing spaces will be renovated into two standard classrooms and a SCB/LFI room. On the third floor, construction of the proposed science wing will be achieved by renovating five existing classrooms into science laboratories. The existing standard classroom will also be renovated into a computer lab. The new construction will consist of a steel-framed structure with a masonry exterior facade, designed to be compatible with the aesthetic of the existing school.



Page 3J


Technology:

The classrooms will be designed to support interactive educational technology that includes controlled wireless computer access and interactive teaching systems. Individual classrooms are designed to provide a student seating arrangement that can be organized into small groups for project-oriented teaching, or students aligned in rows to face a central teaching wall. The following spaces will be designed with the same standards as the classrooms, however, each space will also have additional features as listed below:

• The technology education laboratories will be protected by alarm with keypads. Extensive electrical service will be provided for computers, machines, and portable electric tools. Computer network outlets will be installed in multiple locations in each room.

• The multipurpose laboratory will be designed to have access to all technology in the school to provide for flexible computer use.

Charging stations will be located throughout the school and in the commons area. The commons area is designed to be a flexible space for students to use as an extension of the existing cafeteria, as well as a performance space to support the robust music, drama, and arts programs


RRMM Lukmire Architects Page 3K


Sustainability:

The proposed project will not be pursuing LEED certification, but will still be designed and constructed with an emphasis on the environmental sustainability. The architecture and engineering systems will align with MCPS facility management sustainability principles to ensure long-term operational effectiveness. Key features related to the sustainability include the following:

• Managing stormwater to reduce surface runoff quantity and improve quality • Using highly reflective roof surfaces to reduce heat gain in the building • Installing water conserving and low-flow plumbing fixtures in the addition • Optimizing the energy performance of the building by providing a highly energy efficient building envelope,

lighting system, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) • Optimizing equipment selection, installation, and operation of new HVAC equipment through

commissioning of the energy systems • Adhering to construction indoor air quality management plans and using low emitting building materials to

safeguard occupant health • Providing a high level of occupant control over individual lighting and thermal comfort to promote an

enhanced indoor environment in the new building • Using construction materials that are recycled and regionally manufactured for the addition • Maximizing daylight in classrooms • Minimizing background noise level from HVAC systems in classrooms and control reverberation time with

sufficient sound absorption materials


RRMM Lukmire Architects Page 4

Vicinity Map

Site:



Page 5

Existing Site Plan



Page 5A

Proposed Site Plan



Page 5B

Conceptual Building Section



Page 6

Existing First Floor Plan



Page 6A

Proposed First Floor Plan



Page 6B

Existing Second Floor Plan



Page 6C

Proposed Second Floor Plan



Page 6D

Existing Third Floor Plan



Page 6E

Proposed Third Floor Plan



Page 6F

Existing Fourth Floor Plan



Page 6G

Proposed Fourth Floor Plan



Page 7

Existing Elevations



Page 7A

Proposed Elevations



Page 8

Project Team, Schedule, and Estimated Construction Costs

Design Team Members

Architect: RRMM Lukmire Architects Civil Engineer: Clark Azar & Associates, Inc. Structural Engineer: Holbert Apple Associates, Inc. Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Engineer: James Posey Associates

Project Schedule

Preliminary Plans Presentation: February 2019 Construction Documents Completed: August 2019 Award Construction Contract: November 2019 Project Completed: September 2021

Estimated Construction Costs

Existing School: 261,295 square feet Renovated Area: 15,500 square feet New Construction: 74,500 square feet

335,795 square feet

Future: 21,700 square feet

Construction Cost Estimate for

Building and Site: $24,542,000