Spencer County Middle School
Teachers and Administrators at Spencer County Middle School envisioned a facility that would generate an “inner focus” to create and promote a learning environment. As a result, Sherman Carter Barnhart’s created a 21st Century “Mall for Knowledge” theme to make every experience a positive influence on learning. All classrooms offer display cases open to the hallway as well as display windows that showcase computer workstations and help create an engaging, participatory, and fun experience.
The Great Hall appears as a busy streetscape, complete with “window shopping” display areas for art as well as the student café. The central focus for the Great Hall is the entrance to the 450-seat auditorium, with a three-story façade and theater marquee.
At the other end of the building, the two-story clerestory-lit media center joins the first and second floor hallways, connecting the school with a “real time” information lab. A brick and limestone “turn of the century” façade highlights the space, which includes a glass enclosed student commons area accessible from the second floor hallway.
The student café is open from the Great Hall, and contains different styles of seating to create a restaurant-type environment. A curved wall of glass terminating at the greenhouse visually stimulates this multi-purpose cafeteria, and results in a multipurpose space that inspires anytime, anywhere learning. Serving lines are arranged as food court stations offering a variety of meal options, further complementing the mall-like environment.
With their experience of working with multiple funding sources and familiarity in navigating federal programs, Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects is working with Dawson Springs to deliver a modern, affordable housing community with market-rate amenities.
Three Sherman Carter Barnhart -designed schools — South Green Elementary School, Cumberland Trace Elementary
School, and Rich Pond Elementary School — are featured in this month’s ICF Builder Magazine.
