BOZEMAN, Mont.—Construction continues on the new $93 million high school in Bozeman, with a completion date slated for this November.

When developing concepts for the new 1,500-student Gallatin High School, the design team of Cushing Terrell gravitated toward a layout inspired by a town center. Working with general contractor Langlas and Associates, “the town center concept represents a place where people come together for a variety of purposes—a focal point for meetings, commerce, social interaction, and other public events — all aligned with building a unified, interactive community,” said Corey Johnson, education design studio director, Cushing Terrell.

Much like in a city or town, Cushing Terrell envisioned the school’s town center as a dynamic, shared space. It represents the convergence of learning “streets,” the primary social arteries linking the school together, which are widened to offer collaborative breakout spaces. The town center will also be surrounded by important community functions such as the administration offices (town hall), library, art gallery, student store, gymnasium, auditorium, and food court.

“A north/south alignment of the campus architecture facilitates the flow of movement to and from outside environments, such as landscaped areas and sports fields, through the entry plazas, all connecting via the town center,” explained Johnson.

With the town center serving as a hub, one learning street is oriented to the north, terminating in a wall of glass facing Sacagawea Peak in the Bridger Range. Another learning street leads to academic community areas that look out at the Tobacco Root Mountains to the west. The glass wall of the town center also connects viewers with the Spanish Peaks to the southwest, as do windows in other academic communities situated at the south of the facility.

The town center will also serve as an amphitheater for assemblies and speakers, as well as provide space for small group meetings and individual study areas. Incorporating a highly functional staircase, spaces for a coffee bar and café will be tucked under the stairs. Extra-wide hallways will allow for greater visibility into other learning areas.

Rather than spreading the 304,000-square-foot school across two levels, a more compact three-story solution will be implemented to shorten distances from one side of the school to the other and provide greater efficiency in the building’s footprint, systems and energy use.

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HELENA, Mont.—Bryant Elementary School is one of three new schools in Helena, Mont. Completed last year, it was designed to replace its 80-year-old predecessor, which suffered from aging infrastructure and overcrowding.

The new $14.6 million two-story building spans 44,792 square feet and is three times the size of the original school. Featuring an elevated sky bridge, connecting classrooms and administration areas to a community gym and music room, each grade level (K-5) has classrooms and common areas, linked by paint accents in a single bright color. Adjustable lighting and plenty of natural light in the classrooms reinforce wellness.

The spaces within the school are convertible with both overhanging doors and curtains that can separate learning areas for a variety of purposes, as well as movable furniture throughout.

Stepped window seats add a unique element, perfect for reading, while cozy “honeycomb” seats provide an aspect of privacy and comfort for quiet times. The building’s signature sky bridge was devised as a practical solution to spanning the city’s primary water main, creating unique opportunities for seating areas within and for outdoor activities and green space beneath. The gym, stage and music room are fully outfitted to serve not only student activities, but also community events.

The project team included Mosaic Architecture (executive architect), and Cushing Terrell (educational planning, programming and design support; interior design; mechanical, electrical and structural engineering fire protection and furniture). The general contractor is Dick Anderson Construction.

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SHERIDAN, Wy. —The new Whitney Center for the Arts (WCA) at Sheridan College in Sheridan is now open. The two-part $19 million project includes a 12,000-square-foot remodel for the music programs and 48,000 square feet of new arts space. The new space houses the growing Art programs at Sheridan College, as well as a 422-seat concert hall.

Cushing Terrell was the architect on this project and Dick Anderson Construction was the general contractor.

The new two-story space includes sculpture, drawing, painting and ceramics studios; student and faculty galleries; and collaborative spaces. The new expansion also gives the college room to add to its art program offerings.

The Whitney Center for the Arts features a concert hall that has been needed on the campus for some time. Variable acoustic banners to adjust the sounds reflection put the spotlight the performances in the hall. The changeable proscenium stage has a motorized fly system and a hydraulically convertible orchestra pit.

Formerly the Generals gymnasium and then the C-TEL Auditorium and Information Technology Services, the Sheridan College Music Department now has a new space that was specifically designed to address its growing needs.

The Music programs remodel includes a large band room, choral room, piano classroom, multiple practice rooms, a recording studio, a music theory classroom, faculty offices, and storage. These new spaces accommodate the Sheridan College Jazz and Band Studies, Strings, Vocal, and Music Technology Programs.

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