Facility Planning
Internal Circulation:
Signature spaces
A new large “Town Square” place has been created as a Commons/Cafeteria in the existing Library (Old Gymnasium) space. This major signature space creates the center and heart of the school. All of the circulation and entrances are connected to this space.
Circulation
The existing circulation requires most of the students to enter at the far north entrance and make there way into the building. There is no central common space for dispersal, which creates congestion areas at the T intersections in the corridors. With the new Large Commons/Cafeteria space the passage is a simple direct connection from this space easing internal circulation.
Entrances
New main entrances are created and enhanced on the South, West, and North court to flow directly into the new large Commons/Cafeteria space. The central “Town Square” Commons/Cafeteria creates a place of community and a circulation flow center for all persons entering the facility.
Academic Areas:
The renewal plan contains five major academic areas of approximately 400 students in each area. Academic Area V is created from the existing cafeteria in Phase I to provide additional classroom space so that each of the other Academic areas may be renovated without reduction to the overall number of classroom spaces during renewal. Academic Area I was created in the southeast corner with Academic areas II and III mirroring north to south across the center of the school. Academic Area II is created on the south from new space created from the final removal of the courtyard. Academic Area IV is created in the Benson Building and has the capability of being divided into two, 200 student areas which provides for the SWS and EWE programs which have traditionally been in the 200 student size.
We have provided each of the Academic Areas with nine core academic and two science classrooms. One multi-use classroom is shown with four of the Academic areas associated with media center. We have also provided large and small group rooms in each area as well as teacher offices and support spaces.
The key is providing flexibility in the location and grouping of classrooms to accommodate a variety of delivery models. These include the range from traditional departmental divisions to separation into Academic areas with students completing the majority of core curriculum in one area. The students would move to other central spaces of the building for electives. This substantially reduces congestion in corridors and meets ASD standards for academic areas in new High Schools.
We have provided for two special education rooms is each Academic Area. Academic Area IV has one designated and a substantial number of additional classroom spaces associated with this area to allow for Special Education needs. The classrooms are dispersed throughout the facility for maximum utilization and flexibility of program use. Small group special education areas and office spaces are also dispersed with some central space in the Administrative areas grouped around the Commons Area “Town Square”.
The new Commons/Cafeteria is a large core spaced designed to be multi-use for groups, PE, cafeteria, and other large group functions. The Gym/PE complex at the north side of the facility will remain essentially the same with improvements to locker spaces, circulation, and compliance with code exiting. The Library/IMC will be relocated to the south area adjacent to the Commons in Funding Cycle II. It will have exterior access for evening activities.
The New and Final Library/IMC will be created in Phase 4A in the old music suite at the front of the building for easy access to public, evening access, and central to student access.
Music Areas – in Phase 3
A new complete music and performing arts area will be created in the center of the building. The existing auditorium will be replaced with a new 700-seat auditorium per ASD standards. All remaining music and performing arts program spaces will be adjacent to the auditorium for joint use at a central location accessible to all students without access to the entire school.
Art Areas – in Phase 5
New art areas have been created in a centrally located area off of a main corridor. They will be easily accessible to all students and allow Academic Area III to be contained in a geographical area of the building. The new art area will contain two and three-dimensional studios and will be closer to the other performing arts area for interaction. The BPO previously located here will be moved adjacent to the District Maintenance area.
Food and Consumer Science Area – in Phase 3
The food and consumer science area will relocate and be centralized in the facility adjacent to the Common Area.
Technology Area – in each area as appropriate to renovation
The technology areas have been dispersed throughout the building. We have utilized existing technology labs and augmented with new and improved labs. Each of the Academic areas has access to a lab directly and there are shared labs in the Music area and Business Marketing area. There will be full technology in each classroom with the state of the art systems to be determined at the time of final design.
Business and Marketing Area – in each area as appropriate to renovation
The Business and Marketing area has been relocated into one major four-classroom space located in the first floor of the Benson Building. There are existing Technology labs located here, which will create a core area for this curriculum. It is accessible from the Central Commons and will be useful to the Academic Area IV nearby.
JROTC Areas – as area is renovated
The JROTC areas will remain in the space currently utilized. The program will continue with upgrade to the classrooms and use as required for this specialty.
Intensive Needs Areas – created in Phase 5
The Anchorage School Board Supplemental Educational Specifications stated the requirement that the Intensive Needs Spaces be adjacent to an exterior drop-off zone and easily accessible to the facility. In addition it was decided to put the program spaces in one location for simplicity of construction and avoid duplication of plumbing requirements.
To address this issue we met extensively with the East High School Special Education Staff, District Staff, and Staff from other schools. The consensus was to provide for the Intensive Needs spaces and Program in the lower floor of the Benson Building with access directly to the new drop-off area. In addition, we provided the two program spaces with special wet lab requirements to meet the Intensive Needs Program. These are shown on the Master Plan and will be accomplished as part of Funding Cycle III work that includes full renovation of the Benson Building. Additional Special Education spaces are provided though-out the facility.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Statewide Program Area – in flexible space created in Phase 3
East High School is the Statewide High School for DHH program. With this they have up to 30 students in the program at varying degrees of need. We have allocated space centrally located on the first floor adjacent to the commons for this program.
SWS - School Within a School & EWE- Elitnaurvik Within East – in existing space
SWS has existed for over 20 years at East and is designed for students district-wide who function independently as a smaller group of students. The EWE program, though newer has a need for identification with a small group. Both of these programs, though very different, can be served within the renewal plan in either a 200 student Academic area as provided in Academic Area IV or within a larger group of 400 with special purpose group rooms. The renewal plan provides the flexibility and space for these programs to continue as currently used or with modifications as may be required.
The central Administrative offices will be in three major circulation points. The relocation of the Activities Vice-Principal, Athletic Director and Activities Office to the New Commons/Cafeteria will occur in Phase 1. In future phases the Cirriculum Vice-Principal, Nurses Office and other Administrative offices principal will be located adjacent to the New Main West Entry with Career Resource Planning, Guidance/Counseling, and Special Education offices. The central student services and counseling areas will be located with offices in each Academic area to serve students easier and main area at West Entry
.
The Discipline Vice-Principal along with the New Police offices will be located at the South Administration Area with the Principal’s office adjacent to the main south entrance and Commons/Cafeteria. Additional administration offices will be dispersed throughout the Academic Areas per ASD standards. The central student services and counseling areas will be centrally located with offices in each Academic area to serve students easier.