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Dear MLK Community,
I am excited to have been selected to lead Martin Luther King, Jr. Renaissance Middle School (MLK) into the future. As you know, MLK is slated to go through a true renaissance with the building of its new facility. A component of the Building A Better Richmond initiative focuses on providing educational facilities that have the resources to prepare our students for living in a global society. The plan to construct a new MLK promises to not only benefit our students, but to improve the community in which the school exists.
First, the students will receive a beautifully designed modern, facility in which to study and explore the world around them. The new school will have a campus, park- like setting with courtyards and trees to provide a sophisticated outdoor atmosphere for student communication and collaborative study. The classrooms inside will be spacious and equipped with state of the art technology for student use. New parking lots will be constructed as well. In addition, on the southernmost side of the new school’s campus, a clinic is to be constructed to provide medical services to our community. The clinic area is also to include multi-purpose meeting rooms to be utilized by school and community members. This portion of the facility will have a separate entrance to distinguish it from the school itself.
Our students deserve every opportunity to be successful educationally and socially. The commitment of our school division coupled with that of the City of Richmond to providing the best in educational resources will have a positive impact on the potential for improved student achievement. The building of the new MLK represents a commitment to changing the landscape for the purpose of continued educational opportunities for our students and building stronger community relationships.
Dr. Valerie Harris, Principal, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School (MLKMS) project includes the design and construction of a new 800 pupil facility on the existing site including possible additions to the existing facility.
Phase 1 Design activities include programming, education specifications development, schematic design and review and updating the initial project budget. Currently, MLKMS is in the early stages of Phase 1 Design. The programming and education specifications are scheduled to be completed on or about March 12, 2010 at which time a final report will be issued to Richmond Public Schools (RPS) for acceptance.
The architecture firm for MLKMS is BCWH Architects. BCWH held its initial project meeting with the reconstituted RPS elementary school team. BCWH has also held several meetings with the RPS design team and the MLKMS Principal to discuss Programming and corresponding Education Specifications. The goals of these reoccurring meetings are to put the architect together with the MLKMS students, parents, teachers, administrators and community in an attempt to more clearly define the curriculum delivery method and preferred space alignment. BCWH has also spent a day with the RPS Design Team visiting several middle schools in the central and northern Virginia area to review current designs and gain a better understanding of the needs of the future Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.
Ground-breaking and site utilities work is presently scheduled to begin October 2011 with the completion of construction scheduled for June 2013. Students are slated to occupy the space on the first day of school in August 2013. Demolition of the existing building and final site activities will be complete around the end of that same year.
As progress continues, please check back here for more information!
BCWH Architects is a full-service architectural, planning and interior design firm with a diverse body of work in a wide variety of community contexts. We have a 23-year legacy of service to educational institutions with the completion of over 450 educational projects, ranging from K-12 public and private facilities to public and private Colleges and Universities. Our practice is committed to design excellence and outstanding client service.
In 2008, BCWH received the highest award given by the American Institute of Architects Virginia Chapter - the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Award. "The firm award," as it is more commonly known, recognizes a firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture over a period of at least 10 years.
Architectural Services
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Planning Services
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Interior Design Services
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