New Bern High School

New Bern, NC

Following a successful $24 million bond issue, our predecessor firm, Stephens & Francis, p.a., was selected to design the new New Bern High School as well as additions at Havelock and West Craven High Schools, and two new elementary schools. Programming An initial programming effort in which  school leaders of the county-wide system, were interviewed to gather information concerning teaching methodology and facility needs. Other new high schools within North Carolina were visited and studied by the group to see other designers' efforts with this facility type. This group then established the design parameters, of which educational program, budget, and maintenance were primary concerns. Simultaneously, the architects developed a space-needs/equipment-needs study based upon various scheduling and class options. These studies led to the creation of monetary and square footage budgets. Site The new facility is located on a 100 acre site and contains 224,000 s.f. of built area.  At the conceptual level, the new structure acts as a site separator with access and parking on the entry and sides of the building, wirh the athletic fields beyond. Protection of wetlands was integrated into the development of the site and used to define  specific areas. Parking and access - continued on next page