During the Nottingham High School project, 3rd year and 5th year landscape architecture students worked in collaboration with high school students and faculty to develop programs and site designs for an existing courtyard space at the school.
The 25 3rd year students facilitated an after school workshop during which the high school community shared information about the existing use and conditions of the space, and ideas for ways to improve it. Based on this information, and an analysis of the site and context, the 3rd year students developed programs to serve as the foundation for the designs. These programs defined the elements that should be included in the designs, their environmental and spatial requirements, and the relationship between elements, with strong consideration given to the needs and values of the school community. The programs were presented to members of the high school community, who had the opportunity to comment on and evaluate each of the programs.
The 5th year students used the information shared during the programming phase to develop six different schematic designs. Illustrated through plan, section and perspective views, these designs offered the community alternative approaches to consider for the redevelopment of the courtyard space.
For the high school community, this project has provided a strong foundation upon which to base decisions as they continue into design development. It was the intent that participation in the design process would strengthen their sense of ownership, provide evidence that their ideas were listened to and understood, and sustain the necessary energy and excitement to carry the project through implementation. For the landscape architecture students, this service learning project was an opportunity to apply and practice skills in programming, design and participatory methods while contributing valuable assistance to a community-defined project.
The project summary, Nottingham High School Courtyard Design Project, provides a more in depth review of the process and also serves to assist the school in deciding which programmatic elements and ideas they will pursue.