New High School > Project History > Design Principles

Educational and Functional Principles/Goals
Driving the Design of a new Souderton Area High School

1. To best assure the safety of students in a modern public school environment.
2. To maintain the feeling of “a small school within a large school” by creating a lower academic house (Grades 9-10), an upper academic house (Grades 11-12), and effectively located common areas.
3. To create instructional spaces and incorporate technology that will meet the needs of growing and changing subject areas.
4. To promote curricular integration and authentic learning within each academic house.
5. To carefully evaluate and apply the best practices of high performance (environmentally sound) school buildings during the planning, design, construction and operational phases.
6. To promote cooperative planning and teamwork among SAHS teachers and staff.
7. To facilitate partnerships with universities, community organizations, and businesses to promote the goals of the Souderton Area High School.
8. To provide greater distance learning opportunities for all members of the SAHS community.
9. To establish more efficient and successful sports programs at the high school (9-12) level.
10. To design a school that supports both school and community activities (i.e. community sports programs, health services, public service, community education programs.)
11. To design a school that has the ability to readily expand to meet projected or unforeseen population growth.
12. To always keep the project budget in focus and to exercise sound business practices, such as life cycle cost analysis, when evaluating design options.