White Cone is a 51,000 s.f. alternative high school (9-12 th grade) with a curriculum which focuses on traditional Native American artisan practices. Initially planned to accommodate 250 students with expansion provisions of up to 400, the project includes kitchen, cafeteria, admin, academic classrooms, technical classrooms and studios, music room, media center.
The design process began with a Charrette, the goal was to develop a facility that would support an innovative arts curriculum with science, math, history, and writing supporting the mission of training youth to be successful, professional artists in a global economy. The curriculum is also based on the idea that high level art and craft are taught in an “apprentice” and “student” environment.
The facility has spaces to accommodate the development of student portfolios, store/archive artwork, and display artwork. The building will be a place to create student work and to celebrate it.