The Middle School Building Committee approved a $30,644 design fee April 14 for AI3 to develop two linked outdoor projects at the new Cochran Middle School: a roughly half‑court-sized outdoor play area with line painting for games and activity, and an outdoor learning space with seating, shade, and raised garden beds.

Why it matters: the approved design work will create programmed outdoor space intended for student recreation and curriculum use; design will include hard and soft seating, shade features, raised beds for gardening and possible power for outdoor speakers or plug-in heaters.

Scope discussed: the design team described the play area as approximately 2,471 square feet (roughly a half-court), with line painting for basketball, hopscotch and other playground markings. The outdoor classroom was described as a semicircular or rounded presentation area with a focus point, integrated bench seating (some with writing surfaces), softer seating (beanbags) and native plantings. The committee also discussed options for mobile or electric heaters and the need to coordinate any heater installation with the building department and fire officials.

Next steps and schedule: AI3 will prepare a design for review; committee members noted it may be tight to complete construction for summer but that design work could proceed concurrently with turf-field work and be revisited at the next meeting. The committee approved the motion to pursue the design fee and asked the design team to return with final drawings and any construction pricing.

Direct quote: during the item a presenter summarized the ask as "an outdoor learning area with, mix of some hard seating with tables covered by shade... raised garden beds... and then some more of like a reading circle, a little more of a rougher space."