Frederick Douglass High School & Joseph C. Briscoe Academy
Baltimore, MD
Size:
250,458 SF
Samaha provided complete design services for the renovation and co-location of Frederick Douglass High School and Joseph C. Briscoe Academy at the existing Frederick Douglass High School site. Prior to award of this contract, Samaha performed a feasibility study for the project. Three options with several iterations of each were reviewed by BCPS and MSA as well as presented to the community at two virtual meetings. The final option of a modernization with a minor addition developed during the feasibility study was the option ultimately pursued for development.
Following approval of the feasibility study, Samaha proceeded through design and construction documents on a full renovation to this 100-year-old school. The original construction included plaster on masonry clay tile walls and cinder concrete floors, requiring in-depth analysis and detailing. The design process included multiple options, designing new additions and gaining approval through the City of Baltimore’s historic review commission.
Co-locating two schools on an existing established school site created some unique challenges that were addressed in these options. For the two schools to operate independently, they needed to be separated for operation and security. However, with the varied programs of each school, there were opportunities for shared use of some of the spaces. With Frederick Douglass High School occupying the existing site, the options needed to maintain the integrity of Douglass while also providing a new identity for Briscoe on the site.
The selected option demolished the existing two-story ROTC wing to provide Briscoe a main entrance off of N. Warwick Avenue, and provide Douglass a main entrance off of Gwynns Falls Parkway. Separating the entrances allowed both schools to have their own identity. The demolition of the ROTC building also helped to remedy some of the ADA accessibility issues within the existing school. The new two-story addition houses part of the Briscoe program with the remaining portions of the program housed on the ground floor and first floor of the existing building. The remaining portion of the existing four-story building was modernized to house Frederick Douglass High School, and a new secure entrance was provided on the East side of the building for the Douglass students.
