The SEED School of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
Background
The SEED School of Maryland is a public boarding school for at-risk youth in grades six through twelve. The 52-acre site chosen for this new school is an existing high school built in the 1970’s – a campus that included large parking areas, a sports stadium, indoor pool, 900-seat theater, tennis courts, and classroom building intended for 1600 students. At maximum capacity, the SEED School student body is planned for no more than 400 student-residents.
The pre-design challenge of the project involved an exploration of how much of the existing building to use, how much to demolish, and how many new buildings to include – accomplished over an ambitious three-year timeline.
Implementation
Mahan Rykiel conceived the entire site as both an opportunity for learning and a comfortable, nurturing environment, as much home as school, particularly since students will include children as young as 12.
With a strong background in campus master planning, Mahan Rykiel Associates developed a number of design goals which included:
• creating a park-like environment; preserving mature trees
• establishing a clear separation of pedestrian and vehicular circulation
• developing flexible outdoor spaces for a variety of school and social functions
• using existing walks, roadways, and parking wherever possible
On a fast-track design and construction schedule, the school began operation in Fall 2008 with one new dormitory building open and 80 students enrolled.