K-12 Education
A new middle school takes flight
Holloman Middle School
The new Holloman Middle School will replace the existing middle school with a new facility designed to accommodate approximately 300 students grade 6-8. The vision for the new school includes co-location with Holloman Elementary School to enable collaborative learning opportunities on one campus. Holloman Middle School is located on Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM. The location inspires a design theme around the concept of flight and STEAM education.
Connecting schools and community
The new Holloman Middle School will become a nexus for not only the students, but the larger community of Holloman Air Force Base.
The vision for the co-location of the middle and elementary schools is to have students share resources and collaborate with each other. At the center of the campus will be a STEAM facility that both schools will use, as well as shared outdoor learning environments.
The two schools will develop a single theme to explore together during the academic year and come together to collaborate on campus-wide projects. This gives middle-school students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills while elementary school students participate in project-based learning.
The new middle school will also take advantage of its location on and partnership with Holloman Air Force Base to create new learning opportunities like base field trips, CTE opportunities, and match learning themes to the base.
Because of its location on a secure Air Force Base, our K-12 Education Studio took special care to work with the base to facilitate a secure construction process and design a school tailored for military families. For example, special care was taken to ensure clear wayfinding so that students who may join in the middle of the term – a common occurrence with military families – feel more welcome in their new school.
Designing for learning to take flight
Alamogordo Public Schools has a mission for Holloman Middle School to be the best school in America. What does this mean? A middle school that acts as a learning launchpad, activating student curiosity and learning through multidisciplinary project-based learning and a flexible learning environment.
We started with a campus design that allows for the fluid movement of students from class to class and from school to school, connecting the campus to the community around the school as well as increasing accessibility to other APS students and staff.
The exterior of the building was designed with flight in mind. The shape of the building is reminiscent of the wings of a plane, with a color scheme that reflects the blue skies and white sands of the region. This design was chosen to activate the imagination of students, connect them with the Air Force Base their parents serve in, and inspire them to pursue STEAM careers.
In the interior, flexible layouts allow for classrooms to be combined and define smaller spaces for breakout activities and discussions. Wide, open spaces allow for collaboration and learning to "spill out" from classrooms.
Biophilic design for student and staff wellness
Student and staff wellness is essential in designing a 21st century learning environment. Biophilic design strategies were incorporated throughout the design. Biophilic design strengthens the connections between people and nature, as well as their cultural environment.
A Holloman, biophilic design elements will include:
- Design elements that reflect the natural context of the school, including selecting native plants and creating man-made dunes
- Strategic placement of rooms and windows to provide most spaces with access to daylight
- A landscape design that bridges the two schools together with paths that facilitate easy circulation.
- An edible garden so students can learn about growing food, as well as providing food for the school.
Holloman Middle School is set for completion in Fall of 2025. We are honored to partner with Alamogordo Public Schools and Holloman Air Force Base on the design of this new school. A more modern educational campus will help ready students for bright careers in STEAM as well as attract personnel to Holloman Air Force Base.
Client
Alamogordo Public Schools
Location
Holloman Air Force Base
Size
50,001-75,000 sf
Status
In Progress
Disciplines
Beyond the Building
- Community Benefit
- Mission Support
- Modern Learning Environments
- Student Success
- Sustainability
- Wellness
