University High School treats students as apprentice investigators using exposed systems, connections to the natural environment, and sustainability to encourage dialogue among students. The new University High School of Science and Engineering is organized into three volumes – the Commons, the Academic Pavilion, and the Athletic Center. The Commons is a vibrant, active space, projecting up through the school’s three story volume and connecting each floor through a central circulation stair. The Discovery Center, located within the Commons, is a flexible space used for a variety of engaging activities: exhibitions, community meetings, large-scale experiments, and school gatherings. The classrooms, labs, administrative areas, and the resource/media center are located in the Academic Pavilion off the Commons. Adjacent to the Commons, the Athletic Center provides a facility for physical education, sporting events, school-wide gatherings, and graduation ceremonies.