Baltimore Charter Schools Project

Across the United States there is a movement by educators and parents to create alternative and innovative public schools - often known as "Charter Schools".  In Baltimore, an organization called "Supporting Public Schools of Choice", housed at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers, is leading efforts to provide advocacy and technical assistance to charter schools in Baltimore.  Since the summer of 2007, the Neighborhood Design Center has provided facilities planning assistance to four of these schools - Hampstead Hill Academy, the Green Charter School, Freedom Academy, and KIPP Ujima Academy.

Through our work with charter schools, NDC has been able to bring together architects experienced in school design to help charter school leaders identify their programmatic needs, explore design options that best meet their educational mission, and become knowledgeable about the subsequent steps for design and construction.

Hampstead Hill Academy
Volunteers Craig Purcell of Brown Craig Turner and Mary Purcell were given the challenge of expanding the Pre K and Kindergarten areas of the existing school, while trying to maintain as much outdoor space on what is an already tight, urban site.  Their solution was to create a two-story addition that included a green roof that recaptures the outdoor space lost with the expansion.  In addition to accommodating the programmatic needs of the school, the architects also incorporated various "green" building features, including expansive windows for natural daylighting and to capture heat from the winter sun, native plantings, and a water harvesting system to collect stormwater from the existing building.

Utilizing the work of Craig and Mary, Principal Matthew Hornbeck is seeking funding and assistance from Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse for the construction phase.



Rendering of new addition                                             Site Plan

Project Completion: 2007
Project Location: 500 S. Linwood Avenue  Baltimore, MD
NDC Architect Volunteers:  Mary Purcell; Craig Purcell, Brown Craig Turner

The Green School of Baltimore
The Green School of Baltimore had outgrown the Church of the Guardian Angel’s Kromer Hall in Remington but they had no definite leads on alternative buildings.  They had 51 students in K – 2nd and their long-range goal was to add grades 3 – 5 and increase to 240 students.  Volunteers George Holback and Ash Belgi of Cho Benn Holback + Associates prepared a program and phasing diagram per the school’s goals for expansion, as well as a schematic that added temporary additional space through installation of a mezzanine level, in the event that they were unable to find a new building.  Subsequently, Green School and Afya Public Charter School entered into partnership to both move into the Shrine of the Little Flower on Belair Road. Volunteer Ben Crabtree of Holback of Cho Benn Holback + Associates joined the volunteer team, which provided design recommendations, including concept diagrams, space planning and material selection for the new space. With funding assistance from The Abel Foundation, formation of the non-profit Mayfield Scholastic to purchase the building, and construction commitment from WJS & Associates, both schools plan to open in their new location in fall 2008.

Project Completion: 2008
Project Location: 335 W. 27th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211
NDC Architect Volunteers:  George Holback, Ben Crabtree, and Ash Belgi, Cho Benn Holback + Associates

Baltimore Freedom Academy
The goal of Baltimore Freedom Academy, located on Caroline Street, was to increase their population to 375 in grades 9 – 12.  Located in an older city school building, Freedom Academy needed to better differentiation the spaces between themselves and the other two schools that share the building.  Volunteers Jim Determan and Casey Smith of CSD Architects met with school staff, board, and community stakeholders over the fall and winter of 2007 for their input on the school’s future.   Once the school was assured that it would be able to remain in the existing facility, the volunteer architects completed a space needs assessment for a future 6-12 secondary school and produced schematics to guide future renovation.  Pictured below are the major expansions and improvements, and new entry - you can also view interior design ideas and main floor plans.
Project Completion: 2008
Project Location: 101 S. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
NDC Architect Volunteers:  Jim Determan and Casey Smith, CSD Architects

Kipp Ujima Academy
KIPP Ujima Academy houses 290 students in grades 5 -8 in an older city school on Greenspring Avenue.  With their facility was almost at capacity, KIPP Ujima wanted to increase their space for new students as well as add a computer lab, install their first science lab, and have their own cafeteria, gymnasium and auditorium (which they share with another school in the same 8-story building). They were unsure of whether to try to remain the existing building or move to another one, but wished to remain in the Park Heights area.  Alan Reed & Michael Bosiacki of GWWO Inc/Architects prepared program alternatives analysis for KIPP’s existing facility, a new middle school facility, a new elementary school facility, and KIPP Baltimore HQ Offices.  They then tested out three schemes for new facilities on the existing site and documented how much space KIPP could occupy in the existing building based upon their new program.  KIPP decided to remain in their current facility

Project Completion: 2008
Project Location: 4701 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21209
NDC Architect Volunteers:  Alan Reed and Michael Bosiacki, GWWO Architects