Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska

RSA provided mechanical and electrical design services for a new 1600-student high school. The innovative design is divided into two sides - academic and administrative - with an enclosed spine connecting the two. The entire building is set into geometric boxes designed to divide the school into units of no more than 600 students. The academic side is split into 4 houses, each with its own entrance. Each 2-story house has 14 classrooms and a special education and general resources room. Each floor has a total of 4 science labs. The academic side faces south with magnificent views of the mountains and Cook Inlet and takes full advantage of the south sunlight. The north side of the building houses the gym, music room, library, and the administrative offices. The central portion of the building is fully enclosed and designed for community gatherings to be used as a corridor. In some sections, this passageway is 30 feet wide and set up for seating. The auditorium is a combined cafeteria and auditorium with a full-sized stage, loft and retractable auditorium seating. The outside areas include fields for hockey, tennis, soccer, baseball, track and football, as well as a 498-space student parking lot. Green products and recyclable materials were used wherever possible.