The document summarizes the planning and development of the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) from 2006-2011. It outlines the feasibility study in 2007, construction from 2009-2010, and full implementation in 2011. Key aspects included programming workshops with industry partners to design specialized strands, a state-of-the-art building to facilitate collaboration and innovation, and achieving LEED Gold certification for sustainability.

1. BLUE VALLEY
Center for Advanced
Professional Studies
PLANNING + SPACE

3. PROCESS
2009/2010:
CONSTRUCTION
2007: Pre-engineering in all High
Feasibility Study Schools while designing
balance of CAPS strands
Presented the idea of a
“Center Based Program” Full immersion into
(CBP) business classrooms
2011
Full
2006: 2008: implementation
Charge to Search for Exec. Director
Superintendent + starts (Donna Deeds starts Evolution and
Research April 1) sharing
“Provide unique student Programming workshops NSBA Citation
learning opportunities that commence
currently do not exist in Edison Award
the school district”

4. PROCESS Johnson Community College Survey

5. The programming
workshop process
consisted of four main
components
• presentations made by the
design team
• presentations by industry
professionals/partners
• large group discussions
• small group discussions
and group reports

6. CARL WUNSCHE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY FOMO
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ENGINEERING DESIGN CENTER
CART: CENTER FOR ADVANCED
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY OF IRVING

7. People
Processes
Spaces
Break out of
school–
look outwards.

8. BVCAPS | Visioning
• Create a CAPS Culture between five schools
• Kids are the clients
• Students can personalize their learning
• One of the most innovative schools
• Multiple-uses, flexibility
• Spirit of innovation and discovery
• Interdisciplinary
• Collaborative teams, of students/adults
• Prepare students for a global society
• Symbol for the future
• Community/professional involvement

9. BVCAPS | Visual thinking

12. Dream it. Prototype it.

13. Group sketches
Engineering Bioscience
Whole
Building
Human Services Business

14. Every decision we made had to answer the
question...Does this look like a high school?
Would you see this in a high school?
If so, then we made a different decision.
Donna Deeds
Executive Director

15. Building Layout
STRAND
Learning
Flexible Teaching Spaces
Facilitators
Innovation
Area
Atrium/Core/Café
Innovation
Area
Learning
Facilitators Flexible Teaching Spaces
STRAND

16. • State of the art strands
• Interstitial Innovation
Areas for collaboration
and exhibition
• Ubiquitous
professional learning
community
• A visual identity
• Sustainability that
teaches

18. BLUE VALLEY
Center for Advanced
Professional Studies
BUILDING TOUR

20. GROUP
TEACHER LAW LAB
HUMAN EDUCATION LAB
PERFORMANCE LAB
SMALL
HEALTH HEALTH
Innovation Atrium
GROUP
SERVICES LAB SERVICES LAB
This flexible space at the core of CAPS can be configured for presentations, charrettes, or
HUMAN SERVICES
everyday collaboration. The centerpiece is the wood-clad staircase, behind which is a café.
SECOND FLOOR
ENGINEERING
DIRTY LAB DIGITAL ELECTRIC TOUCH
CAD LAB DOWN AREA
LAB
CNC LAB
SMALL
GROUP
COLLABORATION
AREA
INNOVATION ATRIUM
INNOVATION AREA
MAIN ENTRY
ADMINISTRATION
GROUND FLOOR

21. Forum spaces for
presentations of
learning and
projects to class
and community.

22. Transparency and
openness between
strands, common
spaces, and the
community.

23. The lines between
work+play+learning
are blurred, so CAPS
has a café to fuel the
casual creative
collaboration
between students
and adults.

25. GROUP
TEACHER LAW LAB
HUMAN EDUCATION LAB
PERFORMANCE LAB
SMALL
HEALTH HEALTH
Innovation/Collaboration Areas
GROUP
SERVICES LAB SERVICES LAB
All corridors and ends of strands HUMAN SERVICES
SECOND FLOOR
ENGINEERING
DIRTY LAB DIGITAL ELECTRIC TOUCH
CAD LAB DOWN AREA
LAB
CNC LAB
SMALL
GROUP
COLLABORATION
AREA
INNOVATION ATRIUM
INNOVATION AREA
MAIN ENTRY
ADMINISTRATION
GROUND FLOOR

28. Touchdown
spaces and
meeting rooms on
each floor have
been used for
anything from
curriculum
planning to a
student-run
architecture firm.

29. GROUP
TEACHER LAW LAB
HUMAN EDUCATION LAB
PERFORMANCE LAB
SMALL
HEALTH HEALTH
Engineering Lab
GROUP
SERVICES LAB SERVICES LAB
An integrated engineering and design lab that evolves from design to creation.
HUMAN SERVICES
An industry partner team advised all equipment selection/layout.
SECOND FLOOR
ENGINEERING
DIRTY LAB DIGITAL ELECTRIC TOUCH
CAD LAB DOWN AREA
LAB
CNC LAB
SMALL
GROUP
COLLABORATION
AREA
INNOVATION ATRIUM
ENGINEERING INNOVATION AREA
MAIN ENTRY
COURT
ADMINISTRATION
GROUND FLOOR

32. Human Services/Shelled Space (Future Accelerator)
BUSINESS
THIRD FLOOR
The second floor houses the human services program, including a human performance lab with
professional level technology.
SHELL SPACE
INNOVATION AREA
SMALL
GROUP
TEACHER LAW LAB
HUMAN EDUCATION LAB
PERFORMANCE LAB
SMALL
HEALTH HEALTH
GROUP
SERVICES LAB SERVICES LAB
HUMAN SERVICES
SECOND FLOOR
ENGINEERING
DIRTY LAB DIGITAL ELECTRIC TOUCH
CAD LAB DOWN AREA
LAB
CNC LAB
SMALL
GROUP

34. SOLUTIONS LAB BUSINESS
DESIGN LAB PATIO
FILMMAKING LAB
SMALL LAB
GROUP
Future Accelerator (Shell Space)
Shelled space was left for the evolving program to inform. By 2012, it will be a business
BUSINESS
accelerator and set the stage for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation at CAPS.
THIRD FLOOR
SHELL SPACE
INNOVATION AREA
SMALL
GROUP
TEACHER LAW LAB
HUMAN EDUCATION LAB
PERFORMANCE LAB
SMALL
HEALTH HEALTH
GROUP
SERVICES LAB SERVICES LAB
HUMAN SERVICES
SECOND FLOOR
ENGINEERING
DIRTY LAB DIGITAL ELECTRIC TOUCH
CAD LAB DOWN AREA
LAB

35. BLUE VALLEY
Center for Advanced
Professional Studies
LAUNCHING AN ACCELERATOR

36. Planning an Accelerator
Tom Stat from the Edison Awards led a collaborative visioning charrette for the new accelerator.

37. Accelerator entrance
Early Accelerator Sketches
Diversity of spaces and transparency to the
core of the building/Innovation Atrium.
Accelerator entrance

39. Bioscience/Business
BIOSCIENCE
TOUCH
DOWN AREA
BIOSCIENCE LAB BIOSCIENCE BIOSCIENCE
RESEARCH LAB RESEARCH LAB
SMALL
GROUP
INNOVATION AREA
SMALL
GROUP
TECHNOLOGY INTERACTIVE
SOLUTIONS LAB BUSINESS
DESIGN LAB PATIO
FILMMAKING LAB
SMALL LAB
GROUP
BUSINESS
THIRD FLOOR
SHELL SPACE

41. Technology and
space to support
global connectivity +
collaboration in
preparation for the
global economy.

43. Goal: LEED Gold
• Stormwater Mgmt.
• Rainwater collection used for irrigation
• Reduced Heat Island
• Water-efficient Landscaping
• Rain Gardens
• Optimized Energy Performance
• Recycled, Locally-sourced Materials
• Underfloor Air - IAQ Performance
• CO2 Monitoring
• Low Emitting Materials
• Thermal Comfort
• Daylighting and Views
• School as Teaching Tool