The Northwest Career and Technical Academy presented interesting challenges, being designed to educate local high school students in specific fields such as medicine, transportation, engineering, culinary arts and media technology. The main building is architecturally divided into separate pods for each of these specialties. Due to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements for the project it has more windows and landscape areas than typical Southern Nevada school buildings. The campus not only functions as a school, but also has the capabilities to function as a banquet facility, complimenting the culinary arts training program. Outdoor spaces were designed to compliment the architecture and the functions of the school, while providing a pleasant and inviting experience for students and visitors as well as being environmentally responsible.
|
The landscape design creates unique experiences for different areas of the campus and carefully transitions from the required palm-lined City street into an attractive desert landscape. As an educational environment, objectives were developed to provide examples of environmentally responsible design for the students to observe and study. Native planting areas which will not require irrigation after the plants have become established is one way this is achieved. Another goal was to provide unique and attractive views from each of the study pod windows, such as the meditation herb garden near the medical educational study pod. The Northwest Career and Technical Academy is located at 8200 Tropical Parkway in Las Vegas, Nevada.
|
