March 12, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Durham, NC – Lakewood Montessori Middle is a very unique school in that it shares a facility with a working YMCA. The school and YMCA have recently undergone a complete renovation and the ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 14 at 9 a.m followed by a tour of the facility.
The former Lakewood YMCA was purchased by Durham County from the YMCA of the Triangle as a unique opportunity for Durham Public Schools’ Montessori program to expand from K-5 into middle school. This is only the second public Montessori Middle School in NC.
The facility was originally constructed in the mid-1960’s as a Boys & Girls Club, and was used periodically by a small charter school prior to becoming a YMCA.
The renovated facility configuration specifically addresses the unique characteristics of the Montessori curriculum for 100 students in each of three grade levels while maintaining a dedicated wellness center operated by the YMCA. This re-purposed building serves to provide the Durham Montessori community a pathway through middle school while meeting the desires of the Lakewood community for a rejuvenated YMCA center. The Lakewood YMCA has a core membership from the neighborhood that includes long-standing members who were committed to the redevelopment of this facility.
Several features integrated into the renovation address sustainable building functions, programmatic requirements of the curriculum, and community expectations for both the school and YMCA:
- Day-lighting and Lighting Controls: Windows were replaced, solar-tubes added to the roof, and lighting dimming controls to provide day-lighting in all core classrooms.
- Sustainable Building Materials and Construction Practices: Existing materials were reused where possible; energy efficient windows and exterior metal panels increase insulation characteristics of the building envelope; sustainable wood features distinguish areas of the building; and construction material waste was segregated for nearly 85% recycled content.
- LEED Gold Criteria: Renovation meets all criteria for site, energy, indoor air quality, and material resource utilization to qualify at this level of USGBC certification expected by the end of 2012.
- Indoor Environmental Quality: Building controls and fundamental commissioning are employed to provide the most effective mix of outdoor and conditioned air during every season, while minimizing energy consumption and maximizing indoor air quality.
- Classroom Configuration: Teaching spaces are dividable to support multi-team teaching and the project-oriented format of the Montessori curriculum requiring flexible classrooms with moveable tables and chairs and plenty of storage for student projects along with clear individual spaces for the students. Design program considered:
o Characteristics of physical learning environment: residential feel, flexible, adaptable, interconnected, team teaching support and planning spaces, freedom of movement, and furniture mobility.
o Characteristics of Montessori program: adaptability of classrooms for three grades, internal and external learning collaboration, entrepreneurial spaces, real world experiences, and direct links to the environment.
- Cistern and “Green” Terrace Classroom: Rain harvesting is used to provide irrigation for Montessori agricultural-focused concepts on an outdoor terrace classroom as the program depends on student interaction with the environment and other outdoor spaces.
- Unique Collaboration: Agreement between DPS and the YMCA gives the Y access to fields, basketball courts, and the cafeteria for afterschool and summer programs provided to the school and larger community.
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Jeff Nash
Office of Public Affairs
P. 919.560.2602
C. 919.412.7947
jeffrey.nash@dpsnc.net
