After seeing a recent surge in enrollment from 2,400 to 3,000 students, Huntley High School needed improvements to provide a lacking cohesive school identity and sufficient flexible environments for the Districts’ 21st-century learning programs.
The renovation of an old gymnasium into a Learning Resource Center (the Hub) consists of a lofted Idea Lab as well as student-centric microenvironments. The Hub serves as an on-campus home for a large population of students enrolled in self-paced independent “blended” studies that require space to collaborate and drive their own success while remaining appropriately supervised. The design of the new main entry boasts a lobby that enhances school pride and establishes an iconic and well-defined site access point to ease the congested nature of the old campus. The active commons provide students a vibrant, central location adjacent to the café for socialization, maximized seating during lunch, and another active collaborative space for non-lunch periods. The additions also include a new Black Box Theater, STEM Labs, and a new fieldhouse with an athletic entrance strategically placed for after-hours use. The resulting renovation provides flexible, multi-purpose use and reflects Huntley’s innovative style.