This sketch, along with 3 others, was submitted to the Runkle School Building Committee on April 7th. It will be presented again at a public meeting on Thursday, April 16th at 8:00 a.m. in the Runkle cafeteria. There is not cost information available at this time for any of the options. Cost information will be presented to the public at the Brookline School Committee meeting on Thursday, April 30th at 7:00 at Town Hall.
Things to think about when looking at this sketch:
- Druce Street is at the bottom of the page, Clinton Road is at the top.
- Blue ink represents existing structures, black in represents new structures.
- The ground/basement floor is on the far right of the page, the main/1st floor is in the lower left and the upper floor is in the upper left of the page.
- The three sciences rooms you see each represent a 6th, 7th or 8th grade “homeroom” as well. (This is why you only see 2 classrooms for each of those grades.)
- On the ground floor view, there is a courtyard (marked 130′-6) which provides light to the classrooms in the existing structure (marked in blue) and could potentially provide a site for gardens. This is not under consideration as play space.
Please use the comment field below to share your thoughts about this design. What do you like and dislike about this concept? As this is an early sketch, comments that focus on large issues of layout, site use, etc. will be most useful at this phase.
Links to other options:
For more information, see previous Renovation Report blog entries:
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I wonder how usable the courtyard in the plan actually is. Could it hold a structure? The area looks too small for a recess space and its location could be very distracting to the classrooms that look in on it. If the K wing were elevated (with no classrooms underneath them), there would at least be a flow form the courtyard to the outdoor play areas. Still don’t think this would be ideal.
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Here are some ideas about how we can get better use of the old gymnasium, which is left largely intact in all four sketches.
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I understand the advantages of option B, the easier ciculation path within the building and the uninterrupted views out in the yard. All will be very organaized and supervised. however, I agree with Christina’s comment in regards to the inner courtyard. The inner space is meant to serve as an outdoor class room. My sense is that there is so much to sacrify (= air , light , acoustics, interior views, budget for maintenace) that I prefer any other option but B or see a new B-3.
Though the HVAC system can compensate for all weather conditions, I’m hoping the classes will have operable windows and wondering, in terms of sun and air, what’s the impact of the built portion on the inner court and vise versa. I hope the architects are able to run light and air movement studies and solve the structure accordingly. The 1st graders, for instance, have frosted glass windows facing the lower part of the inner court, (4′ below) will they have natural light at some point during school day? will they have operable windows?
Acoustics can be challenging even when inner court is for quiet study (is there such thing?) The 1st graders that have frosted glass windows, will they be able to have the windows open during class?
Views? The inner elevations of the court will be the exterior views of 3rd and 4th grade all day long; 7th and 8th grade will have more sky. As much as I trust the architect for detailing the elevetions of the building, I would love for my kids to be able to catch a glimpse of sky and not the windows of the classes across the court.As we have a small yard we need to make sure the inner court serves us for outdoor activities. In order for it to be functional year-round this court should be maintained; snow removal during winter and garden maintenance during other seasons. Will there be funds allocated toward this purpose?
I think that in order for this inner-court to serve the students, it should be somehow an extension of the Yard (not by having the K wing cantilivered because (a) immediate access to the yard is crucially important for little ones and (b) because the narrow dimension of the court is the problematic ). I do not have a solution to this problem, I would like it better with a lower Clinton Road elevation that also provide a large oppening to provide for access from the inner court to the yard. I would recreate this mass as an additional story to the existing Druce Street main entrance elevation (but this is just a wild, unprocessed idea.)
Thanks,
Michelle
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