Kumin Associates, Inc., in conjunction with The Anchorage School District, has
been reviewing and redesigning Bartlett High School to meet the Anchorage
School District Educational Specifications, comply with new building codes, and
provide an improved and more functional school. Throughout the summer, the
design team has been meeting with Bartlett administration, parents, teachers,
and students to understand the existing facility and envision the renovated
school.
The descriptions below represent the most recent conceptual design, which is
still under development. This phase of design will be the basis of a cost
estimate that will be used for bonding to acquire funding to build each phase
of the renovation. As each phase is approved for bonding its design would be
refined and construction documents completed . The construction would be phased
over several years, with major work done during the summers to minimize
disruption to school operations. The process of bonding, design, and renovation
could take up to ten years to complete.
SITE ENTRY: A new prominent entry to the site, shared with the
Native Heritage Museum, will provide a more visible entry, separate cars going
to different parking lots, and lead visitors to a new front entry to the
school.
PARKING: Both parking lots have been reoriented with the aisles
running diagonally to the building. This new angle should increase supervision
and improve access to the building. A drop-off loop has been added to the east
lot. The bus drop-off area in the west has been further separated from car
parking by curbs and landscaping. The unpaved road used by the buses will be
paved and will continue to serve the buses. A small parking lot and drop-off
area at the south of the school will serve visitors and provide accessible
parking. Additional accessible parking is provided.
LANDSCAPING: Landscaping between the east parking lot and the
play fields will be thinned out to provide visual access to the fields and to
provide better supervision. To the west of the track will be an earthen berm
with a handicapped accessible path that will provide tiered seating and a
windbreak for the track. Both hockey rinks will be demolished and a new one
built to the west of the new tennis courts.
ENTRY: A new prominent entry has been added to the south of the
building, bringing visitors right into the administrative area and Main Place.
In the design meetings, Main Place has clearly been identified as the heart of
the school and this new entry will emphasize its prominence. The west and east
entrances will remain the primary points of entry for students and staff.
ACADEMIC CORES: The school will be organized into four academic
cores, each serving approximately 500 students. Students will spend the
majority of the school day in their academic cores. Each of the cores contains
general classrooms, two science classrooms, special education classrooms,
computer classrooms, small group areas, teacher prep area, storage, a
counselorís office, and a security office. A large group area that can
accommodate several classes will be shared between two cores. Most of the
student lockers will be in the core areas.
The cores are two levels each; east wing cores are located on floors 1 and 2;
west wing cores are on floors 2 and 3. The organization of the cores and
vertical circulation within the cores should reduce the circulation in the
hallways and large travel distances between classes. Five advanced science
classrooms will be banked in the middle of the second floor (the current
location of some District administration offices) to serve all four cores. A
new elevator will be added to the end of the east wing to provide additional
accessibility to all areas of the building.
SPECIAL EDUCATION: Special Education is spread throughout the
building, with resource and self-contained classrooms, offices and small group
areas in each academic core. SE Administration is located on the first floor
next to the general administration area.
SHARED ACADEMICS: Most of the shared academic areas are
centrally located on the first floor. Business Education is
located behind the library. Visual Arts is near the existing
east entry with the photo/dark room near Business. Technology Education,
reconfigured and smaller to meet the Ed Specs, is in the same location. A lift
will be added to the area to make it accessible. Performing Arts
is in the same location with an additional new drama classroom and a renovated
computer room. A new scene shop and other renovated support areas are also
included in this area. Family and Consumer Science is in the
west wing next to the relocated JROTC program. Additional
JROTC storage is provided next to the reconfigured rifle range on the lower
floor.
ATHLETICS: The excellent athletic facilities of Bartlett will
remain and be updated. A new classroom has been added between the weight room
and aerobics studio. The lockers will be reconfigured to provide individual
showers, team locker area, and athletic offices. The gymnasium acoustics will
be improved and a new resilient running surface will be added to the upper
level track and extended into the hall around the library, where much of the
running practice is done.
SPECIAL NEEDS: The Special Needs program continues to be
located on the first floor of the west wing. It has been reconfigured to
improve efficiency and reduced in size. A new entry at the end of the corridor
leads directly to an accessible parking and drop-off area.
THEATRE: The little theatre has been demolished and replaced
with a new 600 seat theatre that is sufficiently large to hold students from
one academic core or one entire grade level. It will be designed for
performances as well as lectures. Located at the new entrance and linked to
Main Place, it will be a prominent feature of the school.
LIBRARY: The library remains in the center of the building. It
has been reduced to meet Ed Specs.
CAFETERIAS: The two cafeterias will remain in their current
locations. New outdoor patio areas will provide an outdoor seating option for
students. The west cafeteria will be upgraded to allow for use by both Special
Needs and JROTC drill.
ADMINISTRATION: The administrative offices, counseling, nurseís
area, and career counseling will be at the new entry of the building, to the
south and west of Main Place. While generally located in the same area for
visitors and staff convenience, individual functions will be separated. The
exact location of rooms is still under design.
