RMKM designed a new high school and head-of-school administration building for Albuquerque’s Bosque School with goals of the building “fitting in” with its context, providing a warm and inviting first impression, and projecting a bold, dignified symbol of educational excellence. A pristine Rio Grande preserve and existing masonry buildings establish the project’s context. The Schoolhouse Building responds with locally-produced burnished concrete masonry units, glu-lam wood columns and beams, a palate of recycled materials that reflects its natural setting, and lighting strategies that harness the abundance of Southwestern light.
The plan organizes spaces around a linear high-bay, sloped roof space that arranges special program areas and faculty office pods in an ‘interactive zone.’ A continuous clerestory monitor caps this high-bay, providing a luminous common reference throughout the building. Daylight floods classrooms located on the building’s perimeter, from which students spill into the schoolhouse interior to connect with faculty in their offices, the technology reading room, and computer pods. With emphasis on a broad dialogue, the Bosque School welcomes a variety of visitors – including parents, prospective students, college admissions representatives, and potential donors in its “reception/ living room.” A central fireplace serving both the “living room” and a group study area emits a warm first impression of Bosque School and reinforces the spirit of community – a key component of the school’s mission.
Recipient of the 2009 AIA Albuquerque – Merit Award.
