Liberty Middle School

When Bedford County Public Schools needed to replace their 90-year-old middle school building, they seized the opportunity to create a learning environment that would serve students, teachers, and the broader community. The resulting structure combines classical architectural elements with adaptable educational spaces, advanced building systems, and integrated security features. From its media center with mobile furnishings to its science classrooms connected to rooftop gardens, Liberty Middle School demonstrates how educational architecture can support multiple teaching and learning styles while honoring community heritage.

Community-Driven Design Process

Bedford County's middle school project began with collaboration. Curriculum specialists, teachers, parents, administrators, and school officials convened in workshop sessions to shape their educational vision. Through structured discussions, the steering committee established clear priorities: student safety, advanced learning environments, and practical spatial organization that would benefit both school-day activities and after-hours community programs.

These discussions yielded multiple design concepts, each refining the community's input. The Bedford County School Board selected a two-story design that preserves architectural elements from the original 90-year-old building while maximizing space efficiency. This decision launched a project that would blend educational heritage with contemporary learning needs.

Architectural Heritage and Site Integration

Liberty Middle School incorporates signature elements from its predecessor. Two-story white pillars frame the entrance, complemented by a distinctive pediment and cornice. Traditional brick patterns define the exterior, with three windows featuring classical circular designs. These architectural choices maintain the building's significance as a community landmark.

The site presented unique challenges, including a ravine between the middle school and the high school campus. The solution—a land bridge—now connects the two facilities, providing essential access for students and staff who move between buildings throughout the day. This physical connection strengthens the relationship between the two schools while preserving the natural topography.

Learning Environments for Today

The media center sets the tone for the school's educational approach. Visible through the main entrance and across the courtyard, this one-and-a-half-story space adapts readily to different learning styles. Mobile casework, bookshelves, and furniture allow quick reconfigurations. In the learning lab, students collaborate on projects, while the multimedia studio hosts daily news production. Along the courtyard windows, stationary bikes let students combine physical activity with reading and studying.

Supporting hands-on education, the STEM suite includes a woodworking shop, classroom, and dedicated area for 3D printing. A large door opens to connect the workshop with covered outdoor space, expanding project options. Nearby, the technology education lab houses robotics and programming instruction. Its placement next to art classrooms encourages cross-disciplinary projects such as solar-powered installations and light studies.

Spaces That Serve Multiple Needs

Throughout the building, spaces perform multiple roles without compromising their primary purpose. The dining area demonstrates this versatility—above its stage, a skyfold partition creates an acoustically isolated space suitable for band practice or testing. Similarly, the gymnasium serves both daily physical education classes and community sporting events, accommodating 1,200 people on retractable bleachers.

Each academic corridor includes extended learning areas equipped with interactive whiteboards and adjustable seating arrangements. Even locker bays contribute to the learning environment, incorporating flat surfaces and power connections for impromptu study spaces. Second-floor science classrooms connect directly to vegetated roof gardens for practical experiments, while adjacent teacher planning rooms overlook these outdoor learning areas.

Building Performance and Security

Natural light fills each classroom through exterior wall placement. Individual Variable Air Volume boxes provide precise temperature control while reducing energy use and mechanical noise. Teachers can adjust classroom temperatures as needed. The central plant's location enables efficient maintenance access, with VAV box filters positioned at ceiling level for simple replacement. Durable materials, including exterior brick and fiber reinforced plastic, minimize maintenance requirements. Interior spaces feature low VOC paints in complementary blue tones, supporting concentration and school identity.

The building's layout groups public and academic zones logically, allowing controlled after-hours access while maintaining security. Administrative offices at circulation intersections provide natural supervision points. Additional offices near rooftop gardens enable discrete oversight of outdoor learning spaces while maintaining student autonomy. Through these integrated design elements, Liberty Middle School creates an environment where students can explore, learn, and grow while remaining connected to their community's educational heritage.

‍