DETAIL / HONOR

Entry Name: Hastings Middle School, Hastings, Nebraska
Firm: The Clark Enersen Partners
Owners(s): Hastings Public School District
Photographer: Paul Brokering, Inc.

Our client required a very distinctive, economical and flexible 135,000-square-foot new middle school on a short time frame and limited budget – a challenge we met at $115 per square foot.

Working closely with a local concrete fabricator, we devised a new technique to create artistically patterned, precast concrete panels. Form liners were used to mold patterns in each panel as it was manufactured. The liners were rotated slightly for each panel, resulting in 240 unique panels. These symbolize the individuality and diversity of students. At ground level, colorful thin brick insets reduce the façade’s scale and are arranged in a similar pattern to reinforce that concept. The panels’ easy installation helped us meet an aggressive construction schedule.

Jury Comments: Exceptionally rich details created from a limited palette, a standardized construction process, and reuse of reclaimed materials.