Public Invited to LHS West Wing Dedication Ceremony Aug. 24

[marklingm]

From the front page ...

These angled windows looking into one of the new classrooms is just one of many unique design touches throughout the new west wing of the high school.

On Monday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m., the Lakewood City Schools will unveil Lakewood High School’s newly renovated west wing at a dedication ceremony in the northwest parking lot of the high school, 14100 Franklin Blvd. The media and the public are invited to attend the event, which will include tours of the 193,000-square-foot wing.

The project, two years in the making, is the last component of Phase II of the district’s 10-year construction and rebuilding program. Also included in Phase II was the renovation of Horace Mann and Emerson schools from middle schools to elementary schools.

“This completes the second phase of the rebuilding of the Lakewood City Schools. The completion of the whole program will give Lakewood the best facilities in this region. If you want your children to go to the best educational facilities anywhere in the area, send them to Lakewood’s city schools,” said Edward Favre, president of the Board of Education.

LHS’ renovated wing will house arts, science and math classes, and labs as well as classrooms and offices for the West Shore Career Technical District. The foreign language department temporarily will be housed in the new wing until the east half of the school is renovated. Lakewood City Academy will move from the former Franklin Elementary School into the west wing space when the east end is completed as well.

Just as in all the other renovated or newly built schools throughout the district, the west wing classrooms are all equipped with the latest technology including electronic Promethean smart boards for interactive learning, teacher and student PCs, and overhead data projectors. Students will learn in rooms that have dedicated lab areas separated from class space. Labs of between 1,200-1,400 square feet and classrooms of between 900-1,000 square feet afford plenty of space for active learning.

Students will also enjoy a lively color palette that reflects the energy of a dynamic learning environment. Multi-colored tiled floors, lockers, and wall panels brighten the wide hallways, while natural light floods through the many full-length and energy-efficient windows.

Adding to the modern mix of the new wing will be the West Shore Culinary Arts program’s full-service, state-of-the-art restaurant located in the front of the school along Franklin Boulevard. As part of their restaurant training, the students will operate the restaurant for limited hours during the week for the public. An art gallery and greenhouse complete are also part of the renovated wing.

The west wing project marks the seventh building renovated or rebuilt under the district’s construction program. In each instance, the schools have been finished on time and on budget.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/5/16/p ... ony-aug-24