The expansion and renovation of Conestoga High School in TE School District has been a case study in careful architectural process. Heckendorn Shiles Architects has worked closely with the School District’s board members and administrators in devising a site plan, building design, and schedule to provide a comprehensive 21st Century educational environment for the current and future students.

Project planning has balanced existing condition limitations and opportunities for enhanced instructional space. The school site is incredibly constrained with the surrounding developed neighborhood limiting any property expansion. In addition, Conestoga High School is constrained by existing utilities, complicated sloping topography, and athletic field usage.

Within the parameters of the site constraints, HSA coordinated with TE school district’s demographer’s reports and predictions of future growth to examine a variety of building expansion and renovation models to meet instructional needs. An exhaustive programming analysis was conducted to determine the yield rate for different types of classrooms to ensure the design maximizes instructional space from a square foot efficiency standpoint.

The design and schedule of the addition and expansion responds to the need for Conestoga High School to remain open and operational during expansion construction.

Renovations to the existing building will provide cafeteria expansion, additional core classroom space, upgraded science labs, expansion of the fitness facility, an additional FCS instructional classroom, expansion of the library, expanded and upgraded Nurse’s suite, additional restrooms, and expansion of the student services. The new bridge will connect from existing school to the addition.

The addition design centers around a connecting bridge and the translucent roofed atrium that plays off the silhouette of a Conestoga Wagon. The open area meets modern academic needs for more flexible learning spaces.

Breakout spaces within the atrium will provide opportunity for collaborative small group instruction and study areas. The day-lit atrium leads to STEAM classrooms beyond. Art classrooms deliberately open onto the atrium to enhance instructional space and serve as a gallery for student work.

The “Fab Lab” will provide an interactive and collaborative space for students working in art, science, engineering and math.

Core classrooms will also reflect 21st Century teaching practices.