Sadler Arts Academy was born in the twentieth century as Manual Training High School, The segregated Black High School for Muskogee, Oklahoma. As society evolved and because of integration the school campus use evolved as well. Today it is a K-8th grade Arts Academy. As an arts academy, sports like basketball are not emphasized and so the school's gym was greatly underused and except for physical education, it became storage.
The dance class was using the gym's lobby. The library had grown to take up three classroom spaces, the school needed a computer lab for testing and academics, and the dream of a STEM lab was high on the list of needs.
The Gym became the solution. But before design became we considered that Manual Training Alumni still have deep emotions for their school and their gym. We added those feelings into our program and decided that we will design a space for the future while not forgetting the legacy. The resulting design is both economical and surprising. The team had fun with art, science, past, present and future.
The Dance Studio Retained the gym bleachers.
Design Project Manager: Mike Martin, Interior Designer: Alayna Benefield for Renaissance Architects
