EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
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Built prior to desegregation for African American students and to inferior standards, Wilmot J. Fraser Elementary was part of South Carolina’s “Separate but Equal” Program. Once a pivotal community gathering place, the school eventually closed against the community’s wishes. While the school was initially slated for demolition, the design team held community engagement sessions that revealed its cultural significance and historical value to the community. The design team worked alongside the community to establish the extent of the façade's preservation to retain memories of the past, while incorporating into a modern facility serving the needs of Early College High School.
The new ECHS incorporates facilities to accommodate student, faculty, and staff needs. Common spaces, including an expansive Learning Stair, allow for grade level meetings, rallies, and other assemblies. This space is the social center of the school – a place for students to gather between classes or work in groups, students have the freedom to collaborate. Under the Learning Stair, the “College Nook” displays the names of colleges that graduating students have been accepted to, and display cases house community artifacts. Classrooms are designed with flexible AVID spaces to allow for students and teachers to interact in a group learning environment. Science labs give the opportunity for hands-on learning and a greater capacity for advanced STEAM education.
ECHS preserves the stories of the past while creating future opportunities for students in one of South Carolina’s most historically significant neighborhoods.
For inquiries related to this project, please contact andy@liollio.com.
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