The district wanted to consolidate two rival schools and needed help. Bloomfield Hills School District commissioned Fielding to develop a Master Plan for combining two existing two high schools on one campus (1600 students). The process began with extensive discovery, visioning, and community engagement to build consensus. In response to the communities desire for smaller schools, we developed a plan with small-scale learning communities. Each student belongs to a community of no more than 150 students. Nine learning communities give the school a small-scale feel but combine amenities giving students opportunities to world-class co-curricular programs. Each community has a commons space for small group collaboration, student presentations and assembly, and a “hive,” for active brainstorming with writeable walls and great transparency.
A gathering stair visually and physically connects and forms the heart of the school. The stair is used daily for casual meetings and group study in addition to providing seating for larger, all-school assemblies. It is the social center and links the learning communities together to provide a sense of belonging within the greater school.
A Knowledge Market, located at the intersection of Main Commons and Main Street, is utilized for collaboration and networking. This is a more relaxed learning environment with an inviting seating arrangement that mimics a coffee shop atmosphere. Extracurricular groups often meet in the Knowledge Market. Four small traditional style classrooms with folding partitions are also located off this space.
We are extremely pleased with [Fielding]. Their patience, talent, professionalism, creativity, teamwork, and spirit were just what we needed. [We] couldn’t be more thrilled with their beautiful, cost-effective design.”