LEARNING BY DESIGN magazine - North Salem High School

North Salem High School - Site Plan
North Salem High School - First Floor
North Salem High School - Second Floor
North Salem High School - Basement
North Salem’s addition and remodel encompasses both academic and athletic spaces to create a cohesive campus that will support a growing student population.
North Salem’s new classroom wings feature 20 general classrooms, one science lab, two career technical education program spaces, and areas to support special education.
The new courtyard between North Salem’s classroom wings enables students to safely access the outdoors throughout the school day.
The design of North Salem’s new secure vestibule successfully aligns the school’s student safety objectives with the community’s desire to honor the school’s historic design.
Intentionally designed to feel less formal than the main entry, the new entrance at the back of the school serves as a second secure entry.
Athletics are a staple of community culture in Salem. Upgraded athletic facilities will be utilized and appreciated by students and community members, alike.
North Salem’s existing indoor P.E. and athletic facilities were replaced; the school features new main and auxiliary gyms, weight room, wrestling room, and locker rooms.
The new main and auxiliary gyms are directly tied to student circulation. Elements of transparency and adjacency serve to connect athletic spaces with academic spaces.
North Salem’s addition and remodel was thoughtfully designed to optimize student circulation, improving the overall functionality of the entire building.
The new commons is flooded with natural light to promote wellness and efficiency.
In response to North Salem’s growing student population, a second satellite commons and kitchen were constructed to serve the student body.
North Salem’s investment in on-campus CTE spaces reflects a District-wide commitment to providing robust career technical education learning opportunities for all high school students.
Josh Partee
Josh Partee
Josh Partee

PROJECT NARRARTIVE

North Salem High School’s expansion encompasses new classroom wings that feature 20 general classrooms, one science lab, two career technical education program spaces, and areas to support special education. North Salem also features new main and auxiliary gyms, weight room, wrestling room, and locker rooms. A second satellite commons and kitchen were constructed to serve the growing student body.

Creating Campus Cohesion
Identifying solutions that would create cohesion between the existing North Salem High School and its new academic and athletic addition was a key objective throughout the design process. From optimizing circulation to connecting disparate elements of the campus, North Salem’s new addition serves to unify the campus through improved functionality. In addition to functional cohesion, the new North Salem campus is visually cohesive. The design team worked closely with masons to blend the new brick pattern with the existing brick from the 1930s.

Striving for Equity and Parity
Ensuring that North Salem students have equitable access to various resources, facilities, and educational opportunities was a defining characteristic of the school’s addition and remodel. The implementation of safety and security solutions, investment in CTE facilities, and replacement of aging athletic facilities all serve to establish parity at North Salem.

North Salem High School

Description

Owner
Salem-Keizer Public Schools
Salem, OR

Architecture Firm
BRIC Architecture
Portland,Oregon
bric-arch.com

Photography By:
Josh Partee

North Salem High School

Category

Description