CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering - "Flight"
Windsor, Connecticut
Client: Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Size: 164,765 SF
Completion: 2015
Grade Level: 6-12
Capacity: 735
Inspired by flight and designed for exploration, the Academy of Aerospace & Engineering High School invites students to discover aerospace and engineering themes throughout the building. Students move through campus as if landing on a runway at Bradley International Airport; they see that the middle school science labs exist within the frame of a modern airfoil; they discover an ancient nebula in a pixelated facade through the eyes of the Hubble Space Telescope. This living learning environment extends beyond the building's shell, enhancing curiosity and encouraging students to look beyond the textbooks and into their imagination.
As mentioned, the way-finding concept is modeled after Bradley International Airport's airstrip, and the entry lobby showcases historic aviation models. Typical classrooms are a spacious 900 square feet, affording students multiple types of learning spaces. Classroom Lab (CLAB) spaces include a Fabrication Lab, Manufacturing Lab, Aerospace CLAB, Engineering CLAB, Physicals CLAB, Environmental Science CLAB, Chemistry CLAB, Biology CLAB, and supporting project rooms, storage, and independent study spaces.
The auditorium is designed as a flexible, multi-purpose space for use as a formal theater or to host alternate events such as career fairs. In addition, the academy has a full-size, multi-sport athletic gymnasium which provides accessible bleachers and locker facilities. Keeping with the campus theme, the gym exterior mimics an aircraft hangar. This facade is also equipped with a photovoltaic array, providing 30% of the facility's electrical power. Modifications to improve thermal values include new insulation and energy-efficient windows.
Awards
American School & University Magazine - Citation in Combined Level Schools
2016 Associated General Contractors, Inc. - Building Merit Award
CREW CT - The Real Estate Exchange 2016 Blue Ribbon Awards - Best Educational Project
CREW CT - The Real Estate Exchange 2016 Blue Ribbon Awards - People's Choice
Photographs by: Robert Benson Photography