Middle School Steps Up as an Exemplary Model of Excellence

Maricopa Unified School District’s steering committee convened to discuss the design of a new middle school, the district’s third, at a charette session held yesterday. The meeting brought together parents, teachers, administrators, architects from Orcutt Winslow, and project managers to brainstorm and establish goals for the new educational facility.

MUSD Superintendent Tracey Lopeman emphasized the urgency of the project, citing rapid district growth. “We are growing, and our projections support this,” she stated. Current enrollment stands at 9,632 students, with numbers expected to surpass 17,000 in the next decade.

The school board has already chosen a 30-acre site in the Sorrento community for the new middle school. This location is adjacent to a park and playground, making it a prime spot for the upcoming 96,670-square-foot campus. The state has allocated $31 million in funding for the construction, aimed at accommodating students in grades 6 through 8, with plans to begin building within 12 to 15 months.

Saravanan Bala, a partner at Orcutt Winslow, explained the iterative design process. Ideas collected during the session will be taken back for analysis and categorization. “The third meeting is when we will be putting the pieces together to try to organize the site,” Bala mentioned. This process is anticipated to span three charette sessions.

Orcutt Winslow, the firm responsible for designing the recently acclaimed Desert Sunrise High School, will lead the design efforts. This project earned top honors in the K-12 category at the 2024 Real Estate Development Awards.

The steering committee members articulated several goals. One group emphasized inclusivity, engagement, and future-focused learning. Another group advocated for flexibility in resources and an inclusive culture where each student receives individualized support.

“This underscores how important this process is because the kids are coming, and the challenge to create a new model for a school is imperative for us,” said Lopeman. The objective is to integrate relevant, project-based learning and community partnerships, cultivating a school environment that families would want to join.