Herbert Hoover Middle School
Montgomery County Public Schools

Montgomery County Public Schools
Potomac, Maryland

Herbert Hoover Middle School is one of more than 200 schools in Montgomery County. Modernizing the school required preserving nearly 20,000 square feet of classroom space while adding 147,000 square feet. The project’s design centers on a two-zone concept of the public spaces and the academic spaces. This approach facilitates after-hours use of the cafeteria and gymnasium. The design also features strategies to create a secure learning environment, including locating the administration suite adjacent to the main entrance.

The main floor location of the media center and music suite provide acoustic isolation from other school programs, and the walls, floors, and ceilings were designed to reduce the transmission of sound. The school’s courtyards and an abundance of windows create naturally lit interior spaces, reduce the amount of artificial lighting needed, and connect occupants to the outdoors. The school’s green roof captures stormwater and reduces the amount of energy needed to cool the building.