Preserving and celebrating Lakeridge Middle School’s heritage and place within the Sumner community was an overarching goal for this replacement project. Tying in portions of the old school with the new design, the main and auxiliary gymnasiums with their associated locker rooms and support spaces were saved, while the rest of the school was replaced. The design reflects a comprehensive, state-of-the-art middle school that will effectively support and enhance Lakeridge’s educational program for years to come. The school is organized around small learning communities that facilitate individualized attention and enhance student relationships with peers and teachers. The social center of the school is centrally located and is multi-functional, serving as a cafeteria and great hall, a public meeting space with a raised stage, and as a place for formal and informal student gatherings. The school was designed to allow for and maximize community use and partnerships, to be a source of community pride and to act as a natural extension of the character of the Sumner community.