For
Falk Laboratory School, September marks new beginnings: a new season, new school year and the opening of its new wing, which has been under construction for the past two years.
The private K-8 school at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland is celebrating the opening of its $20.3 million addition, designed by Perkins Eastman Architects. The Downtown-based firm was chosen, in part, based on its work a few years ago on Pittsburgh Public School's Helen S. Faison Arts Academy in Homewood, the first new school built in the city in more than 20 years.
Falk's 31,000-square-foot addition includes 14 classrooms, a computer lab, art studio, cafeteria, science room, library and support areas. Green components include a "living" roof that will absorb 80 percent of rainwater; low-flow toilets and urinals in restrooms, and motion sensors on faucets to decrease water usage; and an air-exchange system that draws cool air into the building and pushes out warm air.
"In the old building, there was no space that was not utilized. Somebody was always somewhere," says Dr. Marian Vollmer with Falk. "We previously had a cafetorium. We would eat there and then convert it into an auditorium. It was like working in a phone booth. Now we have more open spaces to take the children to do activities and to hold events with the parents."
The modern, almost industrial design was constructed on a property adjacent to the main building that previously housed--in an old Victorian--the school's library and teacher resources. The existing main school structure, built in 1931, is now undergoing renovations, designed by Perkins Eastman, to be completed by March 2010. The spaces previously used as primary school classrooms and a "cafetorium," are being transformed into a larger auditorium and administrative offices.
With the expanded space, enrollment--which is currently at 310 students--is anticipated to increase to more than 400 students by 2012.
Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Dr. Marian Vollmer, assistant director, Falk Laboratory School
Photograph courtesy University of Pittsburgh