Work on the new public elementary schools is well into the construction phase. The buildings will accommodate growth and expansion for years to come.
Two of Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects’ school projects for Baltimore County Public Schools are in the construction phase, at Bedford Elementary School near Pikesville and Red House Run Elementary School in Rosedale. The designs for both of the new buildings utilize an M&D prototype that emphasizes collaboration, program flexibility/change and the ability to accommodate student population growth.
M&D serves as the construction administrator on both projects to ensure that the intent of the Architects’ design is carried out by the construction contractors.
“The number one thing,” says Architect Robert Taylor, project manager for both schools, “is that the schools will have room to grow and won’t be overcrowded.”
Red House Run Elementary
The Red House Run Elementary School project entered the construction phase in March 2022 with a goal of completion in 20 months. Students were relocated to another school through the 2023-24 school year and the original building was demolished. BCPS pushed for a tight construction timeline to bring students to the new school as quickly as possible.
“All of the community is pretty excited,” Taylor says.
The school, like Bedford Elementary and another school (Victory Villa Elementary) that utilize the M&D prototype, is designed in a two-wing format that can pivot based on the site configuration and available construction space. Red House Run’s wings sit at nearly a 90-degree angle to each other.
As of September 2022, site grading and underground work had begun. Aggregate piers, which are compacted stone columns used to reinforce the soil, had been placed. Construction of the masonry foundation is underway.
Bedford Elementary
With a two-year construction window, work at Bedford Elementary began in mid-July. Students attend the existing school while the new school is being built on what had been ball fields. When construction of the school is finished, the old school will be demolished, and new ball fields will take its place.
BCPS wants to ensure that the Bedford school has spaces that the community can access beyond school hours. As part of the prototype design, the school is broken into two wings, one containing administrative areas and classrooms, the other housing the cafeteria, gym, and community spaces. The administration and classroom side of the building can be locked down during community events.
Building sustainably
One of the primary goals with both school projects was for the buildings to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. Focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability required M&D to think outside the box with its designs.
At Red House Run, M&D chose a geothermal mechanical system to heat and cool the building sustainably. An underground pipe system draws air with a temperature consistently in the mid-50-degree range. The system helps cool indoor air in the summer and heat it in the winter, minimizing the need for fossil fuels.
Bedford lacked the necessary land for installation of a geothermal system, so a traditional cooling tower will be built. At both buildings, insulation and high-efficiency windows will play a major role in energy savings.
‘An even playing field’
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and “maker” spaces are a priority for the new schools. Both buildings will have a dedicated classroom called the maker space next to the art room. A kiln and shared storage will sit between the rooms, and electrical outlets will line a track along the maker room’s ceiling, providing ready access to power. Teachers can set up mobile tables in small groups or create one large table.
“It’s all meant to be very adaptable and movable,” Taylor says. “Nothing is fixed in place.”
Red House Run and Bedford are the second and third Baltimore County Public Schools to utilize the M&D prototype. Victory Villa Elementary School in Baltimore was the first. All three incorporate state-of-the-art sustainable design features and systems.
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“We always want your child to be in the best possible learning situation,” Taylor says.
Taylor thinks of schools that lack proper ventilation or that have to close early because of extreme heat or cold, and he knows that with these projects he’s helping to improve learning conditions in Baltimore County for generations to come.
“You want every student to have an even playing field and have a great environment that promotes learning,” he says. “I think that’s what these schools are going to provide for the community.”
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