French American International Middle School

Location: Portland, Oregon

Size: 26,500 SF

Status: Completed in 2019.

Recognition:

AIA Northwest and Pacific Region, Citation Award, 2020

AIA Portland 2021 Citation Award

IIDA Best in Category - Education 2020

IIDA Impact Award, 2020

IIDA Juror’s Award, 2020

Portland Journal of Commerce Transformer Award, 2019

Sustainability: AIA 2030 compliant, Energy Trust of Oregon Path to Net Zero

Affiliations: Completed while at Hacker Architects.

Project Description: Having outlasted the efficacy of its modular classrooms, the school was looking to find new habitat for its rising global citizens. Positioned within a sloped meadow overlooking a treed canyon, the new three-story building is designed to connect to its adjacent landscape visually, physically and pedagogically. Its sculpted roof shelters classrooms, informal learning spaces, teacher pods a social hub and social spaces of various sizes and shapes to promote a sense of belonging for all of the various personalities and moods of middle school aged learners. Natural ventilation, high performance mechanical systems, a robust envelope, natural structural materials, finishes and a solar ready design all contribute this school’s low carbon footprint while doubling as an invitation for these future global leaders to be good stewards of our planet.