The design for the Green Valley high School Music Building was approached with great care and consideration with regard to enhancing a creative learning environment.
Plans for the 11,000 square foot structure include a new band and orchestra room along with practice rooms, a chamber room, storage rooms, and gathering spaces for the students. The design concept began with the study of natural elements surrounding the campus. Inspiration for spatial organization was found in the faceted forms of rocks. Each rock is different, a combination of solid and hollow elements, and as several are grouped together, the hollow spaces [or voids] become visually apparent links between solid masses. The building is a complement to our desert environment and is comprised of three district areas: 1) the contained spaces | rooms [or the rocks] are connected through 2) circulation paths to the 3) gathering spaces [or the voids] for the students. The inspirational elements lend themselves well to the acoustical aspects required for achieving optimal design of all music rooms. Careful consideration was given to the orientation of the building to minimise heat gain as well as to allow for maximum use of the outdoor spaces. Translucent exterior overhanging room elements and louvers act as a foil against the strong desert elements.
The design for the new music building combines all elements and influences with the programmatic requirements to create a functional, unique, and inspiring space.