To: James Tokar Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Division of Construction 45 West Gude Drive Room Suite 4300 Rockville, Maryland 20850 Issue: December 10, 2015 Project: Thomas A. Wootton High School Renovation/Expansion Meeting: November 4, 2015 Purpose: Feasibility Study, Work Session Meeting #3 Intro: This session started by Samaha listening to feedback from students on current issues. The following were their comments: Current Issues: ƒ There is a lot of student traffic at stair near commons. ƒ They would prefer a better eating situation ‐ currently if there is lack of room in cafeteria, they sit on floor at commons. ƒ They cannot use the courtyard. ƒ The lower level could be utilized better, large stair at west is underutilized. ƒ Circulation at lower level is difficult. ƒ They would like a large student waiting area near pick‐up. ƒ Loose student desks and chairs are preferred, not combined. Design Options: The developed design options were then presented and commented on as follows: 1A ‐ Keeps existing building and auditorium ƒ Tennis Courts ‐ it is proposed that WHS use the 8 courts provided at the Robert Frost MS. ‐ PE explained it is a long walk for class. ‐ These courts also have to be shared with RF's PE class. ‐ There is no access to restrooms/storage for WHS students going to the RF tennis courts. ƒ Tennis courts on campus vs. practice field. Fields may need to be small. ƒ PE advocating for tennis courts (4) ƒ Logistics of tennis matches and access vs. Frost's dismissal time does not always work. ƒ Four courts are possible on Wootton site. ƒ Boys Tennis: Fall ‐ Girls Tennis: Spring 1 | Page of 5 2B ‐ Buses to North ‐ this option reduces parking from 472 to 379. ƒ Designing for 2400 current projections (has been over 2500 in the past) ‐ staff typically is 10% of student population. (240 staff members for 200 spaces) ƒ Off‐site Rockshire site parking lot is going to be lost due to development. ƒ Roundtable discussion is being held to solve Gaithersburg overcrowding ‐ Wootton HS & Magruder HS ƒ Gaithersburg site was 40 acres ‐ Wootton site was 30 acres. ƒ MCPS gets housing information ƒ MCPS is brought in @ beginning of planning process to comment on what is proposed and affects on schools. ƒ City of Rockville will have comments on corrections to Wootton Parkway 2B ‐ Office in front ƒ Old auditorium replaced with new cafeteria ƒ Auditorium will reduce in size from 1200 to 900 and will hold 3 assemblies rather than 2. Some schools are doing 4 ‐ grade level assemblies ƒ Some outdoor dining may be possible also ‐ open cafeteria concept, new courtyard could be used. ƒ Gaithersburg tennis courts aren't conducive to coaching players. ƒ Currently noise complaints from classrooms adjacent to courtyard ƒ Gaithersburg lunch works well ‐ 1 large lunch period ‐ access to entire ground floor ƒ Most schools have gone to single lunch period ƒ Covering over existing courtyard is very expensive. ƒ Student at WHS never use lockers due to distance between classrooms; easier to keep backpack with them. During winter, coat storage needs lead them to request lockers. ƒ Younger students might use lockers. Binders do not fit in them. ƒ Lockers assigned per home room, but student do not go to home room during the day. ƒ Many students leave their coats in the car. ƒ Phil Hill had gotten lockers installed in the past. However, trends have changed and school stopped making lockers mandatory ƒ Backpacks are allowed in classrooms. ƒ Entries should be at grade if possible. Special ed, should be not be on second level. 4C ‐ Demolishes everything except for 2001 addition ƒ It is preferred to have science all in one story ƒ Student prefer an entry on the lower level ƒ Current parking: 472 Proposed: 456 ƒ The city controls locations of curb cuts on Wootton Parkway ƒ Additional exterior lighting is necessary 2 | Page of 5 4D ‐ Preserves two‐story future addition footprint ƒ Robert Frost does not give Wootton HS access to their bathrooms for Tennis. ƒ Future mobile technology to eliminate need for fixed computer lab. However, Google Chrome Books aren't the answer for every teaching situation. Languages require desktops. ƒ Whole building would be wireless ƒ Staff should let building maintenance know about any existing dead spots. Currently having low signal at Admin. and Counseling ƒ Provide two elevators to each level minimum. ƒ Concern with one whole level, massing of building will be very large along Wootton Pkwy ‐ should be broken up. ƒ Whitman HS feels very large on ground of parking lot ‐ all high schools are going vertical. ƒ Operable windows in each classroom Some final general comments and concerns were discussed regarding the design process moving forward and the constructability and phasing: ƒ FS requires 3 different solutions with pros/cons and cost estimate. ƒ Can be built while occupied ‐ some options are easier than others. ƒ One challenge will be to provide science labs and teach P.E. while remodeling ƒ Churchill HS got down to only 2 science labs during their renovation and Walter Johnson HS had 45 relocatables to make phasing work. ƒ By the time construction starts everybody who is currently a student will have graduated. ƒ 1A, 2B, 4D are the preferred directions ‐ they will continue to develop and constructability, pros and cons will be established. ƒ Samaha will focus on 4D to develop phasing. This concluded the meeting. Please review these meeting minutes with the proper individuals and advise of any conflicts, additions, or modifications you may wish to incorporate. The presentation and attendance sheet has been included for reference. Cordially, Jenny C. Alvarez, RA, LEED AP Samaha Associates, PC
jalvarez@samaha‐arch.com 3 | Page of 5