Harlan Independent Humanities Building
Harlan, Kentucky

This project consisted of an addition of a new Humanities Building to the site of the existing Middle School and High School on the existing campus of the Harlan Independent School System. The new Humanities Building includes a music room and a band room complete with instructors’ offices and sufficient storage for instrument and choral equipment.
Programmatically, the relationship between storage space, offices and instructional space is redefined. The offices become an extension of the classrooms allowing the instructor full view into the space. The storage spaces align the perimeter of both the chorus room and the band room. This has a threefold effect. First, it spreads students throughout the room during instrument set-up causing less congestion and ultimately increasing teaching time. Second, it eliminates circulation space lost in a storage room. That space is turned into additional instructional space. And, third, the storage closets themselves act as an acoustical buffer to adjacent spaces. Overall, this new facility will enhance the progression of musical education.


Owner: Harlan Independent Board of Education
New Construction: 7,895 square feet
Existing: 28,840 square feet
Final Construction Cost: $2,129,985
General Contractor: Green Construction