Selected Blog Entries

As a regular part of our Process, VMDO Architects sets up a password protected blog for our clients (see 'Client Access' link on our homepage). The blog facilitates conversations, allows us to post materials for review, and provides a forum for comment.

The Poquoson blog included contact info for all committee members, case studies of precedents discussed at meetings, images and graphics from various presentations, a photo journal and several discussion threads. What follows are entries from two discussion threads - one regarding site evaluation and the other selecting an educational focus for the design - from early in the process. They are ordered chronologically from oldest to newest so that you may follow the story from the beginning.

Welcome

Welcome, Lead Team and members of the school board, to the Poquoson web blog. This site has been set up as a resource for you, and will be used as a tool throughout the programming and design process. It is meant to facilitate conversations and will be used to connect you with resources on the web. Also, as you can see, the names of the VMDO team are listed to the right. If you would like to e-mail Bob, Rob, or me, simply click on our names.

Please feel free to respond to this post with comments or questions.

Site Evaluation Criteria

A Site Evaluation Committee consisting of representatives from central office, the school board, City of Poquoson, and the community has been formed.  The four sites posted below are currently being evaluated, but the committee is open to looking at other sites as well.  If you would like to suggest a site you can do so by responding to this post or by contacting one of the committee members listed to the right.The site evaluation is currently in the information-gathering phase. 

Data is being gathered regarding utilities and services including the availability and capacity of electricity, water, sewer, storm water drainage, natural gas, and cable TV at each site.  In addition, any hazard that may be a consideration including flooding, seismic activity, toxic substances, electrical transmission lines, gas transmission lines, airport runways, railroad tracks, and noise are being recorded.  Also, information related to the development of the site including soils data, suitability for drainage, site access, and other design considerations is being determined.  Finally, the instructional potential of the site is being rated.

Lead Team- First Meeting

Poquoson's Programming Lead Team met for the first time on Wednesday, October 27th at the Poquoson Public Library. The nine-member team consisted of teachers, building-level administrators, central-office administrators, and members of the community. Their names are listed to the right.The primary objective of the lead team is to shape the building by identifying those things that will differentiate the school from any other and distinguish it as a part of the Poquoson community. Before presenting case studies, the architect challenged the lead team to be creative and divest themselves of any preconceived notions they might have about what a school looks like or how children are taught. The brainstorming session that followed the presentation of case studies identified the following aspects that the team felt were important to reflect in the new school.- understanding of the relationship between the water/marsh and land

- understanding of the relationship between Poquoson and the world
- understanding of both history and the future
- understanding of marine life
- recognition of Poquoson's culture (Powahatan)
- recognition of Poquoson's talented artisans and craftsmen
- recognition of the pride of the watermen
- recognition of a tradition of excellence in academics (OM)
- recognition of a tradition of excellence in athletics
- recognition of parental participation
- reflection of small town feel
- reflection of what is best for Poquoson's children
- design that is safe and secure
- design that is captivating
- design that is tectonic (reveals its connections)
- design that is didactic (informative in nature)

The Lead Team will meet again on Monday, November 15th at which time they will travel to Annapolis, Maryland to tour the headquarters of Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Lead Team- Second Meeting

The Lead Team met for the second time on Wednesday... at the Virginia Living Museum!  Team members were given a tour of the facility by the museum's director of education who talked about the ways in which the building was design to instruct visitors. As they toured, Team members took digital photos of those aspects of the design that left an impression on them - a photo journal will be available on the blog shortly. After the tour the Lead Team gathered to discuss how lessons learned from the museum might be applicable to the design of the new elementary school.  Several topics were discussed including the following.

• if something extra-ordinary is designed it ought to provide opportunities for daily teaching (...not just be a moment)
• looking at a cross-section of water provides a unique, enlightening perspective that is quite different from the one you getting just looking at the water's surface (...how can the design of the new middle school reinforce lessons by creating new and interesting perspectives?)
• the "habitoriums" were a meaningful synthesis of the "lessons" presented in the exhibits preceding them (...how can the design of the new elementary school synthesize lessons in meaningful ways)
• a lot of senses can be used to learn (...how can the building activate all of the senses to instill learning at a different level?)
• it is important that children understand context and their place in the world (...and should the children be responsible for maintaining some portions of the building in order to reinforce their context?)
• it is important for children to learn respect (...and that is an all encompassing lesson)

After the discussion, the Lead Team was asked to prepare for the next meeting by giving some thought to themes that might be reinforced through the design or used as a metaphor for the design.  The Seabird Community School (see 'Case Studies' to the right) is a good example of both.

Lead Team- Instruction

The Lead Team also addressed in broadest terms the question, "What are children learning in grades 3 through 6?"   To build on previous lessons learned, to begin to understanding their place in the world, and to begin moving toward independence emerged as common learning objectives.The Team then discussed ways in which the building could support instruction at this level.  Ensuring that the building was all about children was the general conclusion, and the specific ways in which this could be fostered included:

• creating an appropriate scale
• providing opportunities for students to claim and be responsible for personal spaces
• including free space for self-guided and/or co-operative learning
• broadening learning opportunities by making connections between indoors and out
• showcasing a gallery of "academic excellence" to foster pride

A point/counter-point discussion concluded that the building should be adaptable to support instruction today and tomorrow, but shouldn't be so general (good for everything) that it becomes inconsequential (good for nothing).

Lead Team- Themes

The programming Lead Team met for the third time on Wednesday, and began transitioning from a general discussion about themes and ways in which the built and natural environment can support instruction to more specific discussions about what elementary school students learn and the differences between sixth graders and their younger (and smaller) counterparts.

Themes help guide design by providing a focus, but if thoughtfully chosen can also captivate students, provide relevancy, support instruction, and build community.  Several themes were discussed, but two emerged as having the most potential:

• the environment
• transitions (time/history) (place - Poquoson and beyond)

The former creates opportunities to explore the water/land/air continuum, discuss cycles and interdependence, and reinforce lessons about Poquoson, its natural resources, and its economy.  The latter presents opportunities to help students understand their place in the world through the study of Poquoson's past, present, and future and through discussion of the world beyond Poquoson, York County, and Virginia. 

The themes are not mutually exclusive.  In fact, the Team cited examples of several lessons that could be addressed within the framework of either theme - the study of the water cycle, for example.

Both themes will serve as catalysts for design, and the architects will continue to work with the Lead Team to ensure that the ways in which they are incorporated are appropriate, relevant, and useful.

High Performance Schools

Rob here. I was delighted to read that "the environment" was one of the themes chosen for the new elementary school.  That subject is of particular interest to me, and Bill invited me to share some of research I've uncovered on the relationship between the environment and learning.  Some of it relates to student performance and some of it relates to ways in which the environment - both the building and the campus - can facilitate instruction.

The studies are too numerous to list here, but below in the margin to the right you will find a few that you might find interesting.  I invite you to read through the studies - click on any of the links under 'High Performance Schools' - and challenge each of you to find new research (particularly studies relating to curriculum and/or information that is specific to Poquoson and the Hampton Roads region) to share with the team.

An environmentally sustainable building does more than just improve student performance and save money, it also imparts implicitly lessons on stewardship. This, I believe, relates to the second theme that was listed - transitions - in particular, how a student relates to his/her world in and beyond Poquoson.  When one considers that we are quickly approaching the end of the fossil-fuel age, we must recognize that the children to be educated in this school will be facing some very significant environmental and social issues in their lifetime.  Accordingly, we should be doing everything we can to equip them for the challenges they will face, and one way we can start is by using readily-available resources on site (e.g. wetlands, flora, fauna, prevailing winds, rainfall, and the sun) along with the language of architecture to facilitate a better understanding of place and how one relates to the world.

All by way of saying, I'm glad the team has decided that the environment will play an important role in the design of the new school.  Please review the research and share your comments via the blog.

Site Recommendation

After meeting to review additional information and finalize their recommendation, the Site Evaluation Committee presented its findings on Saturday at the school board's January work session.

The committee's charge was to recommend to the school board a site (or sites) for the new elementary school for further investigation, and after determining potential sites, investigating and evaluating each potential site, discussing the impact of the flood plain, reviewing the potential budget, and considering input from the programming Lead Team, the committee recommended that the board move forward with investigations of the existing middle/elementary school site while maintaining an option on the Oakmore property.

Further investigations will include geotechnical exploration, a civil survey, and a study of potential locations for the new school on the site and the impact each might have on parking, pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and outdoor playfields and learning environments.

Unique Vantage Point

Thanks to the help of the Poquoson Fire Department we were able to get a preview of what the view might be like from a multi-story school on the existing elementary/middle school site. 

Firefighter Clay Scary met Bob, Bill, and Jonathan on site with Ladder 206, which can climb as high as 115' when duty calls.  Such heights weren't necessary on this day, but Bill did clamor as high as 70' to take panoramic pictures of the site, Bennett Creek and the Chesapeake Bay beyond.  The first picture was taken from Bill's vantage point as Clay, Bob, and Jonathan (...and an EMT!) looked on.  The second shows the view to Bennett Creek.  Consequently the recommendation is being made for the new school to occupy a part of the site slightly further east so that views to Bennett Creek and Bay will be uninterrupted.