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There are 1,419 students starting their first day of the 2005-2006 school year by walking into the brand new 252,000 square foot Marriotts Ridge high school. The largest high school to be built in Howard County, MD, Marriotts Ridge sits on 46-acres and accommodates 1600 students in the 3-story building.
This school is extraordinarily unique, in that the focal point of the interior is an eye-catching 3-story commons area. This area provides a gathering space for students while distributing filtered natural light from the large skylights into the open area, adjacent halls, administrative and counseling offices, main staircase, media center, and classrooms located on the interior side of the corridors. Classrooms are all equipped with state-of-the-art communications featuring TV and data facilities. The spacious cafeteria, immediately adjacent to the 3-story common area, features a full width skylight which welcomes students to an outdoor dining area.
Marriotts Ridge boasts a prominent auditorium and the most up-to-date sport facilities and athletic fields. The auditorium seats 710 and includes an over-sized stage area, workroom with dust control facilities and modern lighting systems. The sport facilities include a full size gymnasium with bleachers, an auxiliary gym, contemporary weight room and a wood floor dance studio. The athletic fields include an 8-lane track with state-of-the-art track surfacing, playfields for hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis courts, basketball courts and practice areas. The full size stadium and supporting facilities feature the new football field and grandstands for both home and visiting fans.
The team that made this school, the 3rd prototype of its kind, which added approximately 10,000 sq. ft. to this school's size and completed construction in 19 months (6 months less time than the previous 2 smaller versions of the prototypes built) possible includes: The Howard County School Board and staff, J. Vinton Schafer & Sons, Inc. Construction Managers, TCA Architects, many engineers, and the support of residents, parents, and students.
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