Four New & Improved Schools Welcome Students this Fall

Over 3,400 students began their school year in new spaces designed by GWWO. From large-scale renovations to entirely new facilities, 500,000 SF of space was designed to foster student collaboration, offer the utmost flexibility, and promote sustainability.

The building is comprised of a three-story academic bar linked by two glazed curtainwall corridors to the main building housing the media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium, administration, and support spaces. A courtyard formed by the corridors offers students and teachers a place to learn, gather, and study. Flexible classrooms available for group and independent study are centrally located within the academic core to promote frequent use among students and faculty. The building is designed to achieve LEED Silver by maximizing daylighting and ventilation and including a solar ready roof, recycled building materials with long life cycles, LED light fixtures, and water-efficient fixtures.

Principal Rachel Kennelly praised the work of the GWWO team, “Thank you for providing and executing the vision of this facility that is just as functional as it is beautiful. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you.”

A few miles south of Severn Run, the 87,000-SF Two Rivers Elementary School opened in Odenton as Anne Arundel County’s 81st elementary school.

Principal Alexis McKay lauded the design stating that it is a “beautiful new building, a space that was designed [with our students and families] in mind.”

To support the school's young learners, the design capitalizes on natural light and a connection to nature to help students thrive. The building’s form—two classroom wings attached to the central core—creates an open courtyard for learning to extend outdoors. A playful orange patterning on the exterior intensifies as students move around the classroom wing, directing them to this central gathering space. Inside, learning studios within the classroom zones allow students to engage in project-based learning while classroom spaces are designed to be adaptable to future curriculum changes. At the terminus of the grand stair a pinup space serves as a blank canvas to display student works. The building is pursuing LEED Silver certification.

We are grateful to our clients Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Charles County Public Schools, and Friends School for entrusting us to deliver engaging, collaborative, safe, and sustainable environments for your students.