50% SCHEMATIC SITE & BUILDING MODEL

***Models and drawings are properties of the Design Team.

The needs of the community outlined in the visioning session are many and diverse. Due to its high level of affordable housing, the community of largely multi-cultural young families, many immigrant, lacks a social and economic infrastructure. The area’s residents voiced their wish for a school with joint use opportunities such as community centers, libraries, multi-purpose spaces, and active parent inclusion. From an academic perspective, the school needs to bridge the students to “life beyond” through college prep, technology courses, and laying the foundation toward a chosen career. The visioning session participants presented too many ideas, concepts, and needs to list all, but in summary of the day’s discussions, SWHS will unite all community members and be the light of the south valley. “Through the visioning session, a tremendous commitment was made to make this a 21st century school and value to the students beyond high school and their community, whether that means career or college,” said Wendell Vaughn of Perkins + Will, consultants to the project.

The concept of how a high school is organized and how teachers teach has fundamentally and dramatically changed since a high school was last built in Albuquerque. Education is steadily evolving and teaching methods have merged with constantly changing technology. Teachers and the entire education system have been required to grow and adapt with the reality. It is the intention of the design team that SWHS will incorporate designs that will link the structure to immediate as well as long-term learning.