ST. CHARLES HIGH SCHOOL
Waldorf, MD
Project Summary
The new four-story, 285,000 square-foot facility was designed and built to serve a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum for a rapidly growing community in southern Maryland. The centerpiece of the design is a state-of-the-art, multi-use dome theater containing digital surround sound and high-resolution graphics. The lobby also houses “Science on a Sphere”, an educational tool developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the six-foot diameter globe uses computers and video projectors to display animated, 3-dimensional data on a six-foot diameter sphere, displaying visual information about science, the earth and the environment.
As Director of pre-construction services for the construction manager under an at-risk contract, Mr. Houk reviewed the project design and construction documents to identify and address challenges related to constructability, systems integration, and conformance to the client’s budget requirements.
Completed in 2014, the project is a LEED-certified facility and incorporates vegetated roofs, rainwater collection and gray-water systems, day-lighting strategies and bio-retention filters.
Client
Charles County Public Schools
Architect
SHW Group
Contractor
Hess Construction Co.
Services
Peer Review
Challenges
Collaborate with design team to achieve architect’s goals within client’s budget
Provide continuous, integrated enclosures between complex geometries