As part of the Measure Q bond program, Studio W Architects designed a new STEM Academy at Ethel R. Dwyer Middle School. STEM and CTE programs are integral to 21st Century middle school curriculum and there was no space to house them at the campus previously, thus the facilities were designed and built as part of the Phase 1 project implementation.
The STEM facilities consist of three main spaces, including a fabrication lab, technology lab and student presentation/lecture spaces. Each area within the STEM labs contain adaptable furniture to allow for flexible teaching environments, a variety of different activities and individualized learning modalities to support several instructional approaches.
The entrance to the STEM Academy is positioned in a lowered plaza that serves as an inviting approach for students and visitors. The plaza has multiple entry points and contains various seat wall planters to allow learning, socialization and interaction to happen beyond the classroom walls.
The gymnasium/multipurpose building consists of a main basketball court with four practice courts that can also be used for volleyball. The courts are complemented with a stage centered on the axis of the courts to allow maximum visibility.
