This is a hybrid urban master plan in Trenton, New Jersey, that integrates K-12 school and community programs with an emphasis on accessibility in its urban setting. The plan includes enhancing access within the urban environment as well as within individual buildings.

To achieve this, drop-off areas and pedestrian arrival points are strategically located, and a concept of “filter-in and filter-out” is implemented that draws people into the public lobby through multiple entrances and then directs them to the surrounding programs through the main circulation stairwells.

Concept

Circular and rectangular stairways with landings every 4 feet not only connect all of the programs together, but also separate the access points between the school and the general public.
Circular stairwells connect shared learning spaces and programs shared with the general public during non-school hours, such as the multi-purpose hall and theatre.
Rectangular stairwells delineate circulation areas leading to specific school programs such as classrooms for high school and kindergarten.

Drawings and Models