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Lobby and main staircase as seen from the second floor.

The elevated bridge helped reduce the size and new building’s foundation was designed to avoid it.
cost of the new building by providing middle schoolers The school’s leaders, meanwhile, wanted the building
with all-weather access to some learning spaces in the to allow for future expansion, so it was designed with
older building, avoiding the need to build those spaces additional load-bearing capacity for a potential third floor.
into the new building, and by permitting the two Wide expanses of glass—including a large light
buildings to share some key infrastructure, including a monitor located directly over the main circulation stair
kitchen and a nurse’s suite. and gathering space—provide substantial daylighting
A Pepco transformer room was located in the 1931 for the building’s crisp, bright interior. The building’s
building, and an underground duct bank running from entry and central stairwell areas are energized by
that room passed under the future building’s footprint. curving surfaces and, at the same time, made more
Test borings verified the duct bank’s location, and the welcoming by blond wood walls and ceilings. Brightly

ADVANCED PLACEMENT 49