Lake Ridge Academy, a private K-12 school in suburban Cleveland, has opened a new building to bolster its science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) programs.
The 9,247-square-foot Kemper Science and Engineering Building, a freestanding structure on the Lake Ridge campus in North Ridgeville, Ohio, opened earlier this summer.
The facility has a chemistry lab, engineering workshop, research lab, multipurpose room, offices, prep areas and storage. Flexibility was a major consideration; movable partitions in the multipurpose space, dubbed the “Exploratorium,” enable the school to accommodate varying types of events and multiple teaching scenarios.
The engineering fab lab occupies the largest space in the new building. It has two separate, but connected areas for students to create and build new projects. To provide an atmosphere that mimics college-level education facilities, a maker’s lab is equipped with a 3-D printer, laser and vinyl cutters, and computer workstations.
The other engineering space serves as a workshop, equipped with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) router for safe, precise cutting of wood and other materials.
A greenhouse is situated on the southeast side of the building to provide maximum solar gain and easy access from other areas of campus. Students use the living classroom to conduct biology and botany experiments.
The architect is Hasenstab Architects.
