Oakland Christian School
By: Frances Putman
Oakland Christian School in Auburn Hills, Michigan, has a reputation of excellence in the community. For 38 years, the non-denominational school has been teaching strong academics while reinforcing Christian values. Test scores from the school are consistently higher than the national average and among the best in the state of Michigan.
The school originally began in the basement of a Presbyterian church, followed by stints in Baptist, Methodist and Episcopalian churches over the next few years. In 1976, 50 acres of land was donated to the school, and, the following year, students began classes at the current Auburn Hills location.
Over the years, as attendance continued to climb, several renovations and additions were needed. One recent project was a 33,500-square-foot, $3.4-million addition/renovation, which included a new elementary wing, new entrance and lobby, multi-purpose center, and library/media center. The part of the existing school that had housed elementary classrooms was also renovated for use by middle school students.
According to Michael Guthrie, design principal with Van Tine-Guthrie Studio of Architecture in Northville, Michigan, Christian schools have unique design challenges, and, usually, they cannot take a plan designed for a public school and make it work. Because Christian schools often serve students of varying age and grade levels, there are communities within the community that is the school, and it is important to recognize that dynamic.
"(At OCS), there was a real sense that students should be integrated to a certain point, to have that sense of community, but older kids need their own space," Guthrie said.
He noted that, like many Christian schools, OCS believed the older students could serve as role models for the younger ones, and, therefore, the students should not be totally isolated from one another. However, older students also can be intimidating to younger ones, and it was important that they not be together at all times.
The school's "mixing chamber," Guthrie noted, includes the food service area, gymnasium, media center and lobby, while different wings for elementary, middle and high school students provide separation for classroom instruction.
The three-story lobby area in the new addition was created as a way to bring all the communities within the school together. From the lobby, it is easy to see each of the three school wings, and glass used throughout softens the separation.
"Way-finding is critical in a school," Guthrie said, "And from the lobby, it is obvious where to go."
The school is located in a scenic, wooded area, and it was important to those planning the project that the ecology of the area be preserved as much as possible. Many "green" building techniques were employed. First, the new addition was built into the ground to reduce the footprint made on the local ecology. The two-story addition includes a level that is mostly underground but exits to a walk-out area. The way the addition was built into the ground makes the best use of daily sunlight, which also reduces energy costs.
"The orientation of the various wings was crucial," Guthrie said. "It looks irregular, but it is fitted into the ground with the right amount of daylight exposure, so there is not too much heat."
Many of the materials chosen for the project were non-synthetic, green components.
"There is an authenticity to the materials chosen. They are true and honest," Guthrie said.
Glue-laminated timber beams were selected, mainly because they were indigenous to the area and readily available.
"It's important to utilize industries close by, if possible," Guthrie added.
Existing exterior brick walls were left exposed in the lobby addition, giving a warm feel to the largely glass entryway. Block masonry used throughout the project is durable and attractive. The project received several masonry awards, though there are only four block sizes and three colors used throughout the addition.
"It is very minimalist in terms of materials," Guthrie noted. "It's rather sparse, but with detailing becomes elegant."
The project also received a DesignShare award for innovation in school design.
The exposed concrete block used throughout the addition, gives a rich, aesthetic feel to the school, while also providing reflective light and reducing the need for more lighting fixtures.
Guthrie said it is wise for schools to consider building in as many energy-saving options as possible at the beginning. Not only will it save money in the long run, but schools are able to pay for the options in the beginning, when donors are more eager to help.
"People are more interested in giving early on," he noted. "They don't want to give money later on for operational costs."
He also suggests any school considering a building project speak with an architect in the earliest stages.
"An architect can give an evaluation of what a school's needs might really be," he said. "This will lead to the best use of resources and fundraising efforts."
If a school has an established budget, make it known up front. Value engineering, he noted, has come to mean going back through plans and finding ways to make a project less expensive.
"More thoughtful planning in the early stages could alleviate that," Guthrie said.
Founded in 2000, Van Tine-Guthrie Studio of Architecture, www.v-gstudio.com, is located near Detroit. The studio materialized out of a mutually shared interest by its three principals to engage the discipline of architecture through the conflation of theory and practice. There are no formulas, as each project should evoke its own uniqueness.
Fast Facts
School: Oakland Christian School
Location: Auburn Hills, Michigan
Number of Students: Approximately 600
Grades Served: Kindergarten through 12th grade
Architect: Van Tine-Guthrie Studio of Architecture, Northville, Mich.
Description of Project: An elementary classroom wing was added to the school, including a new entrance and lobby area and multi-purpose and media center. The part of the existing school that had housed elementary classrooms was also renovated for use by middle school students.
Size: 33,500 square feet
Cost: $3.4 million
The Challenge: Oakland Christian School is located in a scenic, wooded area, and while more space was necessary, it was important to both school leaders and the architectural firm that the project make as small a footprint on the ecology as possible.
The Solution: The new elementary wing was built on a slope, so the two-level addition makes use of underground, walk-out space.
