Architectural Design Firm: Artik Art & Architecture

General Contractor: Blach Construction (Multi-Prime)

Rancho Milpitas Middle School is a multi-building public school operated by Milpitas Unified School District. The facility is located in Milpitas, California. The project consisted of a modernization for all of the existing school buildings, which included upgrading existing mechanical systems, architectural finishes, and furniture.

The major design element for the modernization is the “21st Century Learning Center.” The project converted a existing computer lab into a modern collaboration space. This space links several classrooms together with operable glass walls. The intent is for the teachers to use the space for curriculum integration. The School District was piloting a program which interlinked History, English, Science and Mathematics with one another.

The space was designed with flexibility and integration in mind. The operable glass walls allowed the teachers to create a larger integrated classroom or private classrooms. The large aluminum box truss was included to allow the teachers to hang or mount additional technology as the funding became available. The modernization also removed the existing ceiling to expose an existing lightwell which now brings in natural light to the space.