Community School

Hughes Associates completed a new lab facility addition to Community School located in Roanoke County, which was converted from a preschool to a middle school. The facility houses Science and Music Labs in conjunction with a new multi-purpose activity, instruction, and assembly space. The labs are designed to implement STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as the basis for a collaborative learning environment that emphasizes “critical thinking.”

Enhancing the STEM approach, the facility intentionally expresses its structure and systems to the students as an example of “project-based learning.”

The construction schedule was very compact, beginning in June 2012 and ending in September 2012, major work was completed during summer months. Sustainable materials and energy efficient, highly insulated wall panels were integrated into this lab facility.