HighPoint Academy Charter School

The exterior design composition of shapes and forms and window shapes uses geometries to emphasize the math and technology educational focus for the building, as well as to maximize daylight. To meet the schools budget and schedule, the contractor encouraged the use of Tilt-Up concrete panels for the wall structure.

This material allowed for a super insulated building envelope as well as a flexibility of shapes and forms that are not as achievable with other exterior building materials. The material's flexibility supported the design team's challenge to keep pace with the creativity of the client and maintain their budget requirements. Taking advantage of the plastic properties of concrete, Tilt-Up panels became textural and sculptural design elements in the interior hallways surrounding the gymnasium, as well as at the exterior through geometric, sloping, and canted forms.

The Tilt-Up concrete walls further allowed for varying textures through the use of form liners and reveals to create visual interest and a unique fenestration design throughout the exterior elevations. The raw surface of the concrete panels enabled the playful use of paint and bold colors to enhance the design and provided a method of way finding and identifying age levels of students.

With a seven-month construction schedule, the project was completed one month early and under budget, which allowed the school to purchase amenities for the building and playground.