Since the school's community is committed to multicultural and multilingual academic and career education, the expanded facility had to address students' and educators’ social and economic needs as well as their individual learning and teaching styles. 

inspiration is inherent
The architectural team was inspired by the projects’ overall celebration of diversity. “Not only were we combining a high school and middle school, this was going to be a school that needed to accommodate students with wildly different culture backgrounds,” says Konrad Judd, the lead designer. “It was about making diverse students all feel comfortable under the same roof—everyone needed to feel confident and inspired to learn.”

That comfort level for students is key, and school administrators strive to create a nurturing atmosphere that promotes creativity and self-expression. For them, language development, in both first and second languages, is the cornerstone of a curriculum which develops necessary skills in areas such as communication, interpersonal relationships, career development and problem solving, in addition to the basics.

the solution
Architects combined the former Lincoln Middle School with a new facility for Bell Senior High School to create a new, four-story structure that blends with the historical architectural style of this District of Columbia community.  The design allows distinction between the age groups while providing options for students to come together when appropriate. Every student has an opportunity to identify with a smaller, age-appropriate group within the campus, and teachers can address the different intellectual, social and developmental needs of its student body. The design strategy accomplishes this by placing students in smaller academic “houses” within the school.

Part of the successful curriculum includes exposing students to options for their future. For example, local business and community partners are invited as adjunct professors so students can explore various career choices. And for those inspired by their city’s politics, students have a mini-UN for role playing and other group activities. When it’s not being used for such activities, this unique space rotates into the auditorium as a back section of seating.