New Voices School
Working with MHA Works of Durham, the New Voices team started with a blank canvas and carefully designed a school facility that truly puts the students first. The 31,592 square foot building will facilitate, not hinder, the advancement of learning, all within a teacher and learner-friendly environment. New Voices will serve as a model for advanced school design and a source of pride for the Triangle region and the state.
Inside, the facility will cater to its students in ways no other public school can. Classrooms will be spacious and outfitted with video monitoring equipment - an important diagnostic tool for both professional educators and family members. Rooms for a wide range of services will be available, including health services, hearing and vision screening, physical and occupational therapy, and assistive technology. A family-style cafeteria will allow students complete freedom to mingle with others instead of being forced into “special” tables only for a few kids. Physical activity and recreational therapy will be possible in a gymnasium that is equipped for students with mobility issues.
Among the design features are:
- Welcoming student drop-off area and wide, spacious hallways
- Eight classrooms
- A school health center
- Art and music rooms
- Medical services space, with therapy rooms
- Observation areas for parents and educators linked to each class
- Assistive technology labs
- An assessment center
- Accessible playground and wheelchair/ walker-friendly paths
- Gymnasium with specialized equipment and activities
