Graceland Park/O'Donnell Heights EMS

One Mission, Two Schools: to design and build a new, 94,000 gsf prototype for the next generation of students at two distinct Baltimore City communities at Graceland Park-O’Donnell Heights ES/MS and Holabird ES/MS. These two, LEED Platinum and Net Zero Energy replacement schools are equipped with student gardens, outdoor classrooms, rooftop solar labs, and vegetative roofs that further push innovation while intertwining sustainable concepts in education – staying true to their mission to nurture, engage, and empower the whole child for life-long excellence.

Located within three city blocks of each other and five miles east of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the two schools have completely different community partnership programs within their walls and unique sites outside. They have almost identical floor plans that demonstrate Baltimore’s focus on project-based learning, sustainability, community use facilities, and energy-conscious schools in an urban environment. The two schools serve under-resourced neighborhoods with high poverty rates and high numbers of English language learner students. Collaborative Learning Areas are drenched in natural daylight in each classroom cluster of grades from Pre-K through Middle School, allowing project-based and informal learning opportunities steps from the classrooms. Learning takes place everywhere on these neighboring campuses, preparing the scholars for successful STEM careers.