Richland School District Two
Richland Two Institute of Innovation
The Institute of Innovation is a place where students, parents, teachers, and academic support personnel can come together, and serves as an interactive hub offering resources to the entire community. The facility was envisioned as a multigenerational “fishbowl of learning” that creates educational spaces which are visible and active to encourage engagement and collaboration. The building’s unique function brings together an area for community resources, offices for the District’s Administration and Academic Support, student learning lab spaces, a kitchen/dining area, and a multi-purpose conference center with an adjacent catering kitchen. In keeping with the District’s vision of being a tangible “community resource”, the District also partnered with the Richland Library to house their Sandhill branch with a shared auditorium on the second level. Even in the early stages of design, this facility received an AIASC “Unbuilt Award” due to the innovative nature of the project.
LOCATION: Columbia, SC
SIZE: 212,280 SF
COMPLETED: 2016

Maximizing Functionality
The building was designed to reflect the unique combination of functions on the interior. Reflecting on the state-of-the art technology and programs offered, the façade utilizes a combination of vertical metal panel veneers and pre-cast construction to create an overall industrial, high-tech appearance. Clerestories and abundant glazing with sun shading devices are paramount in introducing natural light throughout the facility. The stone accent walls bring a textural element to the building to highlight the main entry and bring down the scale to enclose outdoor areas reading areas for the library.

Community Resources
The main entry opens to a large central spine that serves as a community resource space and separates the more public areas from the more secure areas of the building. With a 36’ high “dividing wall” which culminates into a continuous clerestory, the area is flooded with natural light. Though the wall serves as an implied separation, the spaces in the building area all “connected” by virtue of various openings in the wall that allow views from one area of the building to another and helps define spaces for high levels of activity and quite learning areas. Floor patterns of ribbons and circles that transition seamlessly from terrazzo, to carpet and to polished concrete also serve to connect the spaces visually and provide intersections for collaboration and interaction.
The community resources area features a reception area and technology displays for information about the building and the District as a whole. It will serve as a location for the District’s centralized registration, various areas for computer work, casual seating and collaboration spaces. The District’s Board Room is sub-dividable for a variety of meeting types that will be available to the community along with various other size meeting rooms off the central spine. The large lobby leads to an indoor-outdoor dining area and restaurant that can be used by the building occupants, as well as for special events.





Innovation Incubator
The building features a unique, 2-story student learning lab where Juniors and Seniors from any of Richland Two’s five high schools will be eligible to participate in programming. The curriculum is focused on advanced STEM and vocational programs. The school’s initial programs are Apple App Development, Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing, Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Managerial Accounting and Finance, Next Energy and Fuel Cell Engineering and Entrepreneurship through Mobile and Non-Traditional Food and Service. The flexible spaces are adaptable to changing programs, multiple teaching methods and varying group sizes.