Vogel Bros. Building Co. is serving as Construction Manager for the new 144,247-square-foot Cherokee Heights Middle School for the Madison Metropolitan School District. The two-story school is organized around academic houses serving grades 6–8, creating smaller learning communities within the larger facility. The building will provide a variety of classroom, laboratory, small-group, collaborative, and specialty learning environments designed to support a broad range of educational programs.
The new school incorporates extensive student and community-focused amenities, including a 500-seat competition gymnasium, practice gym, performance space, cafeteria with a full cooking kitchen, and library. Additional specialty spaces include skilled trades, flex labs, art, instrumental and vocal music, life-skills and sensory spaces, along with administrative, student support, and staff areas.
The project also includes significant site redevelopment, with new parking and site entrances, sidewalks, and two age-appropriate playground areas. The site design incorporates new landscaping and improvements to student drop-off and circulation to support the daily movement of students, staff, and visitors.
Sustainability and long-term building performance are integral to the design. A geothermal well field will support the school’s central heating and cooling plant, which will serve individual fan coil units throughout the facility. The building envelope combines utility brick, architectural precast concrete, metal composite materials, curtain wall, and storefront window systems to create a contemporary and durable educational facility.
With its combination of flexible academic environments, athletic and performing arts facilities, specialized learning spaces, and energy-efficient building systems, Cherokee Heights Middle School is designed to provide MMSD students and the surrounding community with a modern educational environment that will serve future generations.
