Lancaster City Schools High School Career Tech

HEAPY provided engineering design services for a new 320,000 SF high school for Lancaster City Schools in Lancaster, Ohio. The two-story building contains approximately 60 labs and classrooms and includes a gymnasium and field house, career technical facility, and a state-of-the-art AUDITORIUM.

SECURITY AND SAFETY were front and center. The main office and entry design includes a secured entry with an “airlock” approach, using multiple doors and video intercom systems to safely control visitor entry. The main classroom wings have double doors with a “hold open” functionality during normal use, and upon activation of the fire alarm or activation duress buttons located within the main office, the doors will automatically shut for full lockdown, effectively restricting access into the classroom wings from the main corridor. Our team developed creative solutions for designing security and paging systems in the main corridor, which was more than 800 feet long. Ultimately, the design necessitated more than 1,100 data cables and 200 wireless access points to create adaptable, flexible technology access throughout the facility.

The CAREER TECHNICAL FACILITY features flexible, collaborative spaces and high bays to accommodate programs such as medical training, auto body and technology, carpentry and metalworking, veterinary medicine, law enforcement and dispatch (including a virtual gun range), early childhood development, culinary arts, and cosmetology. A production studio offers students access to broadcasting and video production training. The culinary space includes a full-service dining facility and audio-visual (A\V) systems for teaching demonstrations.

INNOVATION

The auditorium features a state-of-the-art theatrical lighting design with SMART controls, panelboard, and breakers. All LED lighting includes floor pocket lights, aisle lights, stage safety lights, and color-change LEDs integrated into sound baffles to create stunning visual effects in the audience seating area. The control system features wireless capabilities to allow for control via iPad, as well as high-level integration between lighting and A/V system to provide presets for specific performance situations.

The Band Orchestral/Percussion space is comprised of two spaces, physically separating the percussion instruments from the rest of the band to allow for focused practices and rehearsals while also allowing both rooms to be combined into one cohesive space. The A\V system was designed with a multi-zone approach to facilitate functionality of these independent spaces, which can be combined or separated as needed.