FW Architects, Inc.
Architecture + Planning + Interiors
K-12 Education
John W. Moore Middle School
Florence School District One
This facility was constructed to replace an older Moore Intermediate School and is designed to accommodate 1,200 students, grades 6-8. The 158,457 square foot facility consists of a central core area that contains Administration, Guidance, Media Center, Fine Arts (band, orchestra, chorus and art) and Computer Science Labs. Extending from this main area are 3 classroom wings, one for each grade level. A 400 seat student dining area with full kitchen and central receiving area is located at one end of the new facility. Adjacent to this is a 1,200 seat gymnasium with tournament size basketball court, stage and locker rooms with showers. A common lobby with restrooms and concessions provides access to both areas for after-school use by the community while restricting access to the rest of the school. Additionally, the Media Center promotes after hours use by the community with similar access restrictions.
Horry County Academy for Technology and Academics
Horry County Schools
This facility was constructed to replace an older existing Loris Career Center. It incorporates a unique philosophy of design and education with four separate academies within the school to train the students in the fields of Automotive/Construction, Healthcare, Hospitality / Culinary training and Technology.
The facility houses a district wide 2000 s.f. Television Studio and 8000 s.f. Community wing with dining room, 100 seat auditorium and computer technology and conference areas. An additional 3000 s.f. Incubation Lab was designed to attract new industries by offering a flexible / multi-purpose area to accommodate employee training and certification.
The Academy for Technology and Academics works closely with Horry-Georgetown Technical College to share facilities, resources and staff at the Academy.
W. J. Keenan High School
Richland School District One
Designed for a present enrollment of 1000 students, the school has core facilities to accommodate 1200 students. The 263,669 s.f. masonry and steel facility is located adjacent to Midlands Technical College off of Interstate 77 in Columbia, SC. During design programming with the principal, parents and faculty, the “cross plan” was developed in response to school security issues, day-lighting requirements, and community use after school hours. The 600 seat performance theater and Auditorium, Media Center, 2,000 seat Gymnasium and practice gym are accessible directly from the exterior for after hours community use and can be secured from the remaining school. The 4 wings also allow like functions of the school to be grouped together such as a 9th grade Academy, Fine Arts, Vocational wing and classroom/Science areas.
Berkeley Middle School
Berkeley County School District
An elementary and middle school existed on the same site. The school district hoped to utilize both facilities as one combined middle school campus, but travel distance between the two made changing classes difficult. Both existing schools operated kitchens, cafeterias, media centers and gymnasiums which proved redundant and inefficient. Through a series of design charettes, the school board was convinced to tie the two campuses together creating a new synergy and center across the shared campus.
The successful solution created a new core facility that houses administration, guidance, a media center, computer lab, gymnasium, kitchen / cafeteria and a multi-purpose space with a working stage. The facility, located between the two existing schools, eliminated the need for duplicated services and shortened travel distance to each to a mere 100 feet.
Evoking the local community’s historic agrarian roots, the stylized barn shape of the new construction has a dramatic 52-foot high concourse running the length of its spine. This “mall” atmosphere is a new hub for all campus activities.
Cross High School
Berkeley County School District
The design challenge of this project was to provide the existing Cross High School with the appearance of being an entirely new school, while working within a very tight budget. New lobbies were provided for the main school entrance as well as the gymnasium. A new brick colonnade with a metal roof serves as a covered walk that connects various parts of the school, providing shelter to students as they travel to and from classes and also serving as a covered drop-off and pick-up for students. The front and sides of the existing building were re-faced with new brick veneer to further facilitate the appearance of a new building.
Greer High School
The School District of Greenville County
Designed to accommodate 2000 students, this 276,000 s.f. school is comprised of a two story portion of general classrooms and a one story portion which encompasses the Kitchen/Serving area, Auditorium, and Fine Arts facility. This area includes two Vocational Shops, two Art Labs, a Band Room, Chorus Room, and an Orchestra Room.
The Two-Story Atrium serves as a combined lobby for the 750-seat auditorium and the 2000 seat Gymnasium, as well as a Student Cafeteria Seating Area.
The central Educational Wing contains the general classrooms and a large Media Center, which also serves as a Community Library with direct exterior access. The Science Lab Area is designed as a “cluster” work area with 6 science classrooms clustered around two teaching Labs.
The campus also boasts competition grade football, track, baseball, softball and soccer fields as well as support facilities and practice fields.
Hanahan High School
Berkeley County School District
The original Hanahan High School campus was built in the early 1960's, with numerous additions constructed over the years. While the enrollment had dropped with recent new school openings, the facilities did not meet the needs of the student population. Buildings were scattered throughout a small campus and students were exposed to the elements between classes. In addition, the entire campus had no architectural interest.
The challenge was to add 173,795 sq. ft. of new construction and renovate 31,780 sq. ft. of existing spaces while avoiding all of the live oaks scattered around the campus, as well as avoiding changes to the existing athletic fields. In addition, a 20' grade change from side to side had to be taken into consideration and all of the construction had to be performed with minimal disturbance to the on-going school activities.
The project consequently entailed housing students in a portable classroom “village” on the baseball field; tearing down portions of the buildings; constructing new facilities in phases and finally moving into the completed campus. The project, when concluded, consisted of a total of 205,575 sq. ft. This included a new 750 seat Auditorium with theater capabilities, new Cafeteria and Kitchen, Athletic Field House, Fine Arts Center, Science and Classroom Wing, Media Center, Vocational Arts and Technology, and new Gymnasium locker facilities. The existing cafeteria was converted into Administration and new school entrance. The existing gymnasium was renovated and a 20' addition was constructed to meet state size requirements to host tournaments. Finally all existing classrooms were renovated, new roofs installed, and a new brick veneer facade was constructed around the existing buildings. The exterior upgrades to the existing structures and their integration with the new construction give the appearance of a new campus.