Princeton Public Schools contracted with the MMI & PS&S team to perform a long-range master plan study to develop concept options to meet the school district’s growing enrollment over the next 5-year period.

THE OPPORTUNITY

At the Princeton Middle School (PMS), the capacity of the PMS was established at 642 based on the school’s current use and schedule format. The projected target enrollment for the 5-year period was estimated to be 879 for a projected need to accommodate 237 students. PS&S was asked to assess the existing conditions in the 169,653sf PMS and propose concept options to renovate and expand the MS to meet the projected enrollment target.

THE CHALLENGE

Develop program requirements for PMS to meet the target enrollment. Being land poor, it was imperative to design a conceptual approach to minimize the existing PMS’s footprint expansion while maximizing the program efficiency of the existing building. PS&S and their Educational Planning Consultant suggested changes to the original house school schedule, which was very fixed and rigid in its design, to a more flexible four-day rotating schedule. The adjustment in schedule improved flexibility between class rotation. The curriculum goals were aligned in coordination with the suggested schedule revisions. The end result of these changes increased the overall capacity of the school. Additional goals were discussed to increase parking at the facility and improve connectivity between the isolated POD design and the additions built in the prior years.

THE PS&S SOLUTION

PS&S developed concept options to minimize the expansion footprint of PMS. The preferred design took advantage of the underutilized existing space in the PODS, proposed renovation to these spaces, and suggested expansion infill areas to improve functionality and connectivity between building areas. The design solution expanded second-floor areas to link PODS and corridors to create an improved circulation loop on the upper level while providing the required core educational spaces within the infilled areas on each floor level. Concept plan diagrams, an order of magnitude cost estimate, a phasing plan, and an estimated schedule were developed as part of the final report and achieved the goals of Princeton School District.