Location: 
Midland, Michigan
Total Square Feet: 8,800
Construction Period: Feb 1999 to Oct 1999

Construction Team
Construction Manager: E&V Consultants & Construction Managers - 1960 W. Houghton Lake Rd., Houghton Lake, MI 48629
Structural Engineer: Rick W. Widener - PO Box 56456, Grosse Pointe, MI 48236
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer: Integrated Design Solutions, LLC - 3150 Livernois, #300, Troy, MI 48084
Landscape Architect: Integrated Design Solutions, LLC - 3150 Livernois, #300, Troy, MI 48084
Cost Estimator: Integrated Design Solutions, LLC - 3150 Livernois, #300, Troy, MI 48084

Integrated Design Solutions, LLC (IDS) was commissioned to design and prepare construction documents for leading-edge science laboratory facilities at both Midland and H.H. Dow High Schools in Midland, Michigan.

The vision of the district administration was clear and progressive. They wanted a state-of-the-art facility that would allow the greatest flexibility and creativity for both students and instructors within a technologically-advanced science setting. In the typical science classroom, experiments have to be completed within a one-hour class period. Midland wanted to create a lab where either individual students or an entire class could set up and run experiments that could last for months. The challenge to IDS was to design the maximum amount of flexible space within their budget and at a quality level that was equal to, or higher than, their existing facilities.

Initial conceptual meetings with the owner produced a series of planning models for consideration. The 4,400-square-foot addition at each high school includes a science lab, computer lab, teacher planning and storage areas. The square footage proposed is more generous than the standard science or computer lab to facilitate the mobile "imagination stations" within. The primary concept is one which allows instructors to teach the very general science class to the most advanced chemistry or physics lab, all within the same room. Water, air, gas, power, and data are located around the perimeter of the room, with additional flexibility for any utilities to be used overhead or from various "docking stations" around the room.

Students can configure the mobile lab tables in any number of layouts, depending on their needs or the size of group for that month, day or hour. The adjacent computer room also features mobile tables for the same reason, and students are able to model different experiments on the computer, record data and outcomes, prior to performing the actual experiment in the adjoining science lab. Data ports are also provided in the lab area.

The instructors' planning area has an observation window through both science and computer labs to observe and monitor. In addition, there is ample storage shelving and a fume hood within the planning room for experiment preparation.

The additions can accomodate up to 30 students in each room at one time. Special features include large volume spaces with exposed ceilings, mobile computer lab stations for interactivity, resource zones for utilities, adjacent teacher planning rooms with an observation window between both the science and computer labs.

Manufacturers/Suppliers
Exterior Walls - Metal Windows: CPI; Paint: Benjamin Moore.
Roof - Translucent Panels: CPI.
Floors - Carpet: Shaw; Resilient Tile: Mannington.
Interior Walls - Drywall: United States Gypsum.