Purposeful

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools in under-resourced communities throughout the United States. Purple Cherry Architects was the local architect for Maryland KIPP Charter Schools. Over a period of 16 months in 2006 to 2007, Purple Cherry Architects assisted KIPP Harbor Academy, a former local charter school within the national KIPP program, with the negotiation of various properties for the expansion of their facility to support the growing school population. Negotiations included consideration of temporary modular classroom facilities at their former location as well as investigating alternative properties. Paralleling efforts to accommodate the immediate growth needs of the school, the firm performed various feasibility studies on potential building sites in the Anne Arundel County area for a new facility for KIPP Charter School. The new facility was proposed to be 28,000 SF and would have included multiple classrooms, a library, multipurpose room, kitchen, administrative offices and other ancillary spaces. The design team became very involved in the consideration of a property shared with a local church in an effort to reduce land purchase costs and to save costs by sharing facilities. The feasibility plan included a concept site plan requiring a creative and compact school structure due to site area limitations and topography. The design also included a green roof for a playground area. As a charter school under Anne Arundel County Public School Board, KIPP Harbor Academy had plans to grow by one grade each year until reaching full size in 2009 with students in grades five through eight. KIPP was not able to find a facility for relocation that met their growth needs for the future and no longer has a charter school serving Anne Arundel County.