Lincoln Middle School

• Shinnston, West Virginia
• 53,000 SQ. FT.
• Architectural and Engineering Services
• Project Cost: $14,000,000
• Completed 2016

The new 53,000 square feet middle school was constructed adjacent to Lincoln High School.
It was designed for 430 students in grades six through eight and includes a community-based health clinic of 900 square feet. Site constraints necessitated a creative design that establishes a prominent entrance and distinct identity for the facility while complementing the exterior features of the existing high school. The effect is that of a campus environment rather than a typical building addition.

The main entrance of the new middle school features a friendly access for students and staff while meeting the security requirements of the SBA. The angled wall defining the entrance serves as a backdrop for colorful graphics.
The spacious lobby showcases a monumental open stair that creates an atrium effect and provides an abundance of natural light as well as a convenient means for students to quickly and easily access their classrooms. The lobby also maintains an open atmosphere by using glass walls for both the administrative offices and the media center, permitting visual control of the lobby area and the secured visitor entrance.
The entrance utilizes shatterproof glass to hinder forced entry and allow the staff to quickly recognize and react to a potential threat.

Our creative approach allows the primary educational spaces to move forward in the plan and become the predominate focus of the front elevation. The educational spaces are designed to create segregated pods for each of the grade levels. Each pod consists of the grade specific classrooms, a science lab, toilets, special needs classrooms and faculty planning areas.
Specialty classrooms such as an art room, computer lab, tech education rooms, and family and consumer science rooms are located on the first floor for easy access by all grade levels.