JCJ Architecture New Fairfield High School

The New Fairfield Public Schools engaged JCJ Architecture to redesign and replace significant components of a 1970s-era structure that was deemed by the town to have exceeded it useful life. The High School was co-located/connected to the Town’s Middle School and shared significant core spaces. The new 146,000 sf High School was constructed adjacent to the existing one. Once the new facility was completed, the existing classroom wing and auditorium were demolished; the original gymnasium and natatorium remained. The middle school and high school are separate buildings connected by a pedestrian plaza. With significant grade changes across the site, the building was designed in a 3-story configuration. The school has two entries: a main entry at the middle level from the plaza and a secondary at the lower level. The two circulation paths, as well as the Gymnasium, Auditorium, and Event Center, are unified around a central core, the School’s Dining and Learning Commons.

The academic core spaces are in a three-story wing with several central Learning Neighborhoods that are cross-disciplinary, combining science and general classrooms with faculty collaboration, breakout, seminar and conference spaces, and special education resource rooms. Career Technical Education (CTE) is integrated with the inclusion of Project Areas for collaboration between specialties. A strong connection at the middle level to the Learning Commons brings together all the Learning Neighborhoods as well as the School’s Design Lab and Media Productions Lab. A performing arts wing, located behind the stage, provides direct access to the auditorium. Spaces include instrumental, vocal, and practice rooms.