Southwood Academy of the Arts, Anderson School District 5
A 17,000 SF interior renovation in an existing middle school in Anderson School District Five provided new spaces to serve as an Academy of Arts for the District’s middle and high school students. New programmatic spaces include a black box theater / drama room, band rooms with accompanying instrument storage, digital keyboarding labs, a dance studio, art rooms for painting and sculpting, and two graphic arts labs.
Phasing allowed the project to continue while classes were in operation. Completed in August 2011, subsequent phases include a 3D art studio and more dance rooms with a third phase planned as a future performing arts facility. Careful building and site evaluation at project inception ensured all additions provide a coordinated result using cost effective design decisions.