dLAB Studio
An exploration of our firm's small projects and research
PHILOSOPHY
The school maintains both a historic downtown campus, and a more rural campus on the former Merle-Smith Estate at the outskirts of town. The project was the first new building in ambitious master plan to move the middle-school from it’s current location downtown (where it is currently co-located with the lower school) to the Merle-Smith campus wit
The resulting structure draws first from the barn vernacular based initially on the size of the structure required for the gymnasium. The open-trusses and raised cupola provide a spacious day-lit interior along the entire length of the structure. A combination of white horizontal shiplap siding is integrated with grey board and batten siding to v
At the southwest entry to the building, the most public face of the Center, are an open lobby, fitness rooms, weight rooms, training and therapy spaces, and multi-purpose classrooms.
The gymnasium volume is highlighted as an independent volume within the structure and emblazoned with the school’s colors, logo, and motto. The north side of the building faces state highway 22, where the volume of the gymnasium is juxtaposed against the profile of the entire structure and illuminated with the school’s name, giving it new identity
The Athletics and Wellness center is home to two athletic courts within the field house that are separated by an operable wall. This large, block volume lives within the open-air and more translucent "barn" roof structure. Smaller support spaces and back-of house programs are tucked along side of the buildings, including locker rooms, offices, and
