Pleasant Knoll Middle School

Fort Mill, SC

The design of this new 1000-student middle school draws upon the irregular grid of a Mondrian painting to define the interior and exterior architecture. The school also incorporates many 21st Century initiatives, including transparency, flexibility, break-out learning spaces, indoor/outdoor connections, movable furniture, integrated technology, daylighting, energy efficiency, and sustainable design principles.

The building footprint preserves wetlands which bisect the center of the site, creating a pedestrian bridge connecting the academic campus to the athletic campus. The layout includes a three- story student wing housing one grade per floor, and a walk-out gymnasium which helps to transition the scale down to the outdoor classroom at the pedestrian bridge. The plan features excellent sightlines for maximum supervision using minimal administrative staff.