Capturing the vibrancy of the arts through a bright, colorful palette inspired by the day sky and the school’s colors

At a Glance

  • $76M

    Construction Value

  • 164K

    Square Feet

  • LEED

    Silver Certified

Location
Hyattsville, Maryland
Offices
Client
  • Prince George’s County
  • Public Schools
Partners
  • Fengate Asset Management
  • Gilbane Development Company
  • Gilbane Building Company
  • Honeywell

Hyattsville Middle School - Architecture and Design Services

Rapid enrollment growth had created a severe space shortage across Prince George’s County Public Schools’ middle schools. To address this, they implemented an innovative public-private partnership (P3) model. As part of the P3 team, we developed a two-story and four-story prototype design for six new schools. We gave each school a unique identity through customized interior finishes and design elements, reflecting each school community’s culture and values.

With Hyattsville Middle School, we faced the challenge of a constrained site. We adopted the four-story prototype, which allowed us to do the most with the limited space. We could also more easily incorporate features that would better support the school’s Creative and Performing Arts program. We distributed the media center across two floors and modified the central learning stair to double as an audience space for informal performances.

For the overall design concept, we chose the day sky to capture the vibrancy of the arts through a bright, colorful palette anchored in the school’s blue and gold colors. Floors are color-coded (blue, purple, light blue, green) to create visual identity and intuitive wayfinding.

The new middle school fosters a secure and health-conscious learning environment for students focused on the arts. This is the only school of the six to feature a black box theater, complemented by music, band, and dance spaces. The school meets LEED Silver standards, emphasizing sustainability, natural light, and views to landscaped areas—creating a dynamic, inspiring environment for both creativity and academic success.

At a Glance

  • $76M

    Construction Value

  • 164K

    Square Feet

  • LEED

    Silver Certified

Location
Hyattsville, Maryland
Offices
Client
  • Prince George’s County
  • Public Schools
Partners
  • Fengate Asset Management
  • Gilbane Development Company
  • Gilbane Building Company
  • Honeywell

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