Odessa Shannon Middle School

The contours of Montgomery County's hillsides shape Odessa Shannon Middle School. The new educational facility—which replaced the former Colonel E. Brooke Lee Middle School—uses its 40-foot elevation change to create distinct entrances at multiple levels, integrating the building with its site while improving accessibility.

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Design Implementation

Built in 1966, the school required detailed planning to maintain operations during construction. Moseley's design team built the new structure on an existing play field in the southwest corner, allowing the original school to continue serving students throughout the two-year building period. The design utilizes the terrain, with public spaces—including the gymnasium, locker rooms, administrative suites, dining area, stage, and music classrooms—positioned on the lowest level for direct access.

Educational Spaces

The design team created spaces for the diverse student population, including the 75 percent who receive free or reduced lunch. A central stair connects three floors, serves as a gathering spot between classes, and provides space for class presentations. The Media Center occupies the middle level's central location. The layout places sixth grade on the west side and seventh and eighth grades on the upper level, each with dedicated stair towers. This arrangement eliminates the need for students to cross through other grade levels to reach shared spaces.

A courtyard brings natural light into classrooms while offering spaces for outdoor learning, presentations, dining, and native species gardens. Adaptable learning areas throughout the building allow teachers and students to modify spaces based on their needs.

Safety and Access

The building's layout emphasizes security through clear sight lines and controlled entry points. The administrative suite provides views of bus and student drop-off areas, while the gymnasium and dining spaces serve as arrival and dismissal gathering areas. An entrance vestibule guides visitors to the main office. Cross-corridor doors enable staff to section off different wings for after-hours activities or emergency responses.

Environmental Features

The school earned three Green Globes—the first Montgomery County school to receive this recognition—along with the Designed to Earn ENERGY STAR rating. The facility includes reflective roof surfaces, water-saving fixtures, and efficient systems. Environmental elements include stormwater management systems, indoor air quality controls, locally sourced materials, and acoustic design that reduces HVAC noise in learning spaces.

Site Design and Community Features

The site separates traffic into two patterns: a loop with 125 visitor and staff parking spaces, and a dedicated area for 16 buses. Recreation areas include a soccer field with softball overlay, three basketball courts, and four tennis courts. Walking paths connect to Wheaton Regional Park, linking school facilities with the surrounding community.

History and Growth

The school's new name honors Odessa Shannon, the first African-American woman to serve on the Montgomery County school board, recognizing her work advocating for educational equity. The design includes master planning for expansion to serve up to 1,200 students, showing how effective building design addresses site constraints while creating practical educational spaces.