Southland College Prep Charter High School Fieldhouse and Fine Arts Center Addition
ARCON Associates, Inc. · Richton Park, IL
Overview
Matteson School District 162 needed a new fieldhouse and performing arts facility to accommodate their students and community. The new 36,000 SF fieldhouse allows the district to host athletic events, graduation ceremonies, holiday concerts, and special meetings. 5,216 SF were added to the east wall of the school to create the new performing arts facility. It can house 203 musicians in the band room, 70-member chorus and provide space for the speech and forensics team.
Southland Prep marks the first free public charter school in suburban Chicago. Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, Superintendent of Matteson School District 162, was instrumental in conceptualizing the unique school, which places an emphasis on innovation, community involvement, collaboration, and high academic standards for all students. The district was in dire need of a fieldhouse & a performing arts facilities. Previously, administration rented space in the nearby Richton Park Community Center for the school’s physical education classes while the 70-member chorus practiced in the hallways of the school. The goal for both facilities was to provide students with innovative spaces that catered to creativity and athleticism. The 36,000 SF fieldhouse features a main gym with full-size competition basketball and volleyball courts, a four- sided digital scoreboard, locker rooms, a fitness room, two classrooms, lobby area with elevator, and concessions. The new performing arts center has a steel-frame addition and is 37 feet tall at its highest points. It accommodates 203 musicians, which is more than twice the capacity of their existing band room. Two sound isolation rooms for small group practice and storage space were included in the design. The interior includes an acoustical roof system to absorb sound and reduce echo as well as acoustical hanging clouds.
Gallery