Designed by Gould Evans, Manhattan High School, A human inquiry was the primary driver in the reorganization of this high school campus, which had undergone multiple additions to accommodate a growing student population. The design team’s research pointed to two primary issues plaguing this growth: a lack of organization, and consequently, a lack of community.
photography by © Mike Sinclair
We addressed the issues of organizational clarity and transparency of program by consolidating commons, cafeteria, library, and media center into a highly visible academic core, nestled between two light-filled and rejuvenated courtyards. The core serves as a social and connective “living room,” with blurred boundaries between interior/exterior and social/academic programs. Within this core, spaces accessible to the community are distinguished from student spaces with rich material texture.
photography by © Mike Sinclair
To further support clear wayfinding and circulation, a new building “language” was overlaid upon the campus at a multitude of scales. In some cases this language is literal, as in the Braille signage; in some cases material, as in the graphic patterns embedded in the long runs of lockers or exterior building panels that transition tonally across the facade; and in some cases conceptual, as in the dappled light that filters through the exterior scrim.
photography by © Mike Sinclair
Project Info:
Architects: Gould Evans
Location: 2301 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, United States
Project Year: 2012
Photographs: Mike Sinclair, Aaron Dougherty
Project Name: Manhattan High School
Ruba Ahmed, a senior project editor at Arch2O and an Alexandria University graduate, has reviewed hundreds of architectural projects with precision and insight. Specializing in architecture and urban design, she excels in project curation, topic selection, and interdepartmental collaboration. Her dedication and expertise make her a pivotal asset to Arch2O.