New High School Proposal

A REASON FOR CHANGE


Sustainability:

Why invest so much money into a giant new high school that only serves for one purpose and only accommodates roughly 8% of the townships population? A school can already provide the proper spaces and functions for an entire community to occupy. As a planner one should search for a solution that opens opportunities for a vast range of activities and community interaction. This will make the "new school" far more usable and its functions can serve an entire community year round. Why have just a high school when its clearly already offering so much more?


Education:

Youngsters can learn so much more from our senior citizens. They are wise and both parties can benefit when incorporating their existence. I feel that it is also good for seniors to be around the youth. Maybe its something about the activities that can lift their spirits and keep them active as well (almost therapeutic in some form). This idea of interaction is what a community really needs to be a called a "community".


Location:

Thompson park is the largest park in Middlesex County, NJ. Unfortunately, I feel that the park is greatly under used and has so much more to offer our community. A park is a perfect zone to bring together this type of interaction and activity. Also the site of the park conveniently sits in the heart of the town. It is the zone where the two opposite sides of town meet (reason why the high school was built in that area). I feel that using the park as my site for a community center and new school will bring more use to the park and the site offers a lot more for the community to use.



PUBLIC CIRCULATION DIAGRAM

ORANGE - Possible opportunity for public circulation and building division zones



DIVISION and ZONING DIAGRAM

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RED - community and school athletic center and flex spaces
YELLOW - Private for High School use only
BLUE - Senior offices and Public Auditorium


My intent is to divided the school plan into 3 separate zones on ground level, leaving private areas for the school to use and others for the school and community to share. This is a 3 story building so most of the class rooms can be on the second and third level (still providing enough space for a fully functioning high school.)