George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology Replacement
Baltimore County Public Schools: Towson, MD
As Baltimore County’s only magnet high school for the arts, the new $55.2 million, 245,000-SF high school offers an interrelated college-preparatory curriculum in fine and performing arts, technology and academic programs for 1,000 students in grades 9-12.
In addition to traditional classroom spaces, the new building includes science and computer labs, a media center, music rooms, dance studios, a video production/TV studio, sculpture, carpentry and welding studios, a cosmetology lab, a dining room with food court-style serving area and kitchen, culinary classrooms, main and auxiliary gymnasiums with locker and team rooms, miscellaneous sport rooms, a health suite, and offices for administration and faculty. A 1,000-seat performance theater with fly loft and orchestra pit is supported by a black box theater, scene shop, auxiliary set room and dressing rooms.
The project is LEED Silver certified with mechanical systems exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 energy-efficiency requirements. A select portion of the new school is conditioned by a ground-source geothermal system, with remaining building areas served by a series of high-efficiency condensing boilers and water-cooled chillers. Energy recovery is utilized throughout many building areas to pre-condition the outdoor ventilation air, significantly reducing the school’s overall energy consumption.
Photos © Ken Wyner Photography
Architect: Grimm + Parker