The Langley School new facility will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for students in grades 6-8. Photo contributed
The Langley School officially opened the doors of its new Middle School building during a special student assembly and ribbon-cutting on the first day of school, Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Named in honor of Langley’s former head of school, Doris Cottam, the 28,000-square-foot facility will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for students in grades 6-8 to develop academically, socially, and emotionally. Although it will be home to Langley’s oldest students, the new Middle School will impact the learning experiences of the entire preschool to eighth grade student body. Key features of the building include:
A rooftop “classroom in the sky,” equipped with chalkboards and benches, will provide outdoor educational space and offer students of all ages an opportunity to learn outside the walls of a traditional classroom.
Designed with guidance from the National Science Teachers Association, unparalleled science laboratories will be used by grades 3-8 and include dramatic ceiling images that will inspire students to think beyond the classroom. The dynamic new space will allow an emphasis on interdisciplinary connections and collaboration in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics among faculty and students.
An Innovation Lab includes writable walls, a 3-D printer, and movable furniture to encourage students to dream, ponder, create, and develop design-thinking skills.
Energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly features are throughout the building, including motion-censored lighting, a safe chemical disposal filter, a variable HVAC system, a “green roof,” and water-bottle refillers.
Exposed wiring and piping in the ceilings and hallways will allow students to see and learn about the systems that help buildings run.
The student commons, project rooms, and nearby gazebo will provide additional spaces for students to collaborate, receive small-group instruction, participate in mentorship programs among grade levels, and develop leadership skills.
“We are thrilled to kick off the school year with the opening of this magnificent new building,” says Head of School Dr. Elinor Scully. “Designed with the specific needs of adolescents in mind and with the flexibility to adapt to changing teaching practices in the future, the facility provides the ideal space in which to deliver the innovative and student-centered pedagogy for which Langley is known.”
Founded in 1942, The Langley School is an independent coed day school for students in preschool through eighth grade. Situated on a 9.2-acre campus in McLean, the school reaches across multiple disciplines to discover, amplify, and embrace the talents of every child, every day.
Call 703-356-1920 or visit www.langleyschool.org for more information.