Okay, so I have two general discussion threads dealing with Tampa Bay Area schools (Pinellas & Hillsborough). However, I thought recently of posting some interesting photos of some of the area's older schools to show what kinds of architectural styles were used in the building of these campuses. When you see a lot of the newer schools, many of them use very similar designs to each other and lack the charm of the older schools.

So to start off this thread, I have some photos of two South Tampa elementary schools: Roosevelt Elementary in Palma Ceia, and Ballast Point Elementary in Interbay/Ballast Point.


First, here's Roosevelt, where I went to school back in the 90s.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x304/wslupecki/100_0829.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x304/wslupecki/100_3002.jpg
I definitely love the Mediterranean style revival on the entire campus. It really gives that Spanish-esque feeling. The bell towers are also a plus. In 2006, the school was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x304/wslupecki/100_3003.jpg
This is the side of one of the original classroom wings. The school now has 35 classrooms, opposed to only 12 when it was first built in 1925.

Now here's Ballast Point, where my sister attends school. Also built in the 1920s.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x304/wslupecki/img032-1.jpg
You can see that a similar architectural style is used here.

Now what really sets these two schools apart, besides the fact that Ballast Point Elementary has no bell towers, like Roosevelt Elementary has, Ballast Point, I think, has one of the most ornate auditoriums. You can see in the next two photos the large, decorated windows, and wonderful ceiling designs.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x304/wslupecki/img033.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x304/wslupecki/img034.jpg

At Roosevelt, the auditorium windows are not as ornate, however almost all the original seating remains intact to this very day. The Ballast Point auditorium was gutted out at one time and converted into the school's library.

I went to Gulf Beaches Elementary on St. Pete Beach and I always like the Mid-Century Modern design. There was a distinct difference when you got to the administration area with the stone work on the walls versus the rest of the campus being smooth stucco. Also there was a nice progression of 5 wings, 1st through 5th grade (Kindergarten and the Library were on the main building. The open breezeways facilited air movement, especially prior to A/C. They started installing A/C when I was there and I didn't get into an A/C'ed room until 4th grade. Gotta love the Fish Broil every fall too. Sorry I couldn't find any photos.

All of the schools I went to sucked ass architecturally. Schwarzkopf and Sickles both were horrible looking schools. Especially Sickles, I felt like I was in prison all 4 years of high school.

^^Same Largo High School is the ugliest school in Pinellas County and Dunedin was just average.

All of the schools I went to sucked ass architecturally. Schwarzkopf and Sickles both were horrible looking schools. Especially Sickles, I felt like I was in prison all 4 years of high school.

Yup Schwarzkopf was a series brick boxes, and Sickles, Martinez (middle), and McKitrick (elem.) are a series of stucco boxes. I guess the schools follow the style of the local homes: Cookie cutter, cheap suburban homes=cookies cutter, cheap suburban schools. :dunno: :lol:

Atleast all of the schools I have ever been too were no older then 12 years or so when I went to them.

^^
I guess we're in consensus that many of the newer schools look like crap for the most part. Even Chiramonte Elem doesn't look like a very appealing school architecturally. And who one earth had the idea of building hexagonal looking buildings on that campus anyway?

The entrance of Mitchell Elementary is pretty interesting.
http://www.christianocc.com/images/project-3.jpg

And you can't beat Wilson Middle on Swann for it's classic styiling. Check out the teardrop style brickwork around the middle windows, beautiful little details.
http://wilsonms.mysdhc.org/1AC24850-00757E5A.0/8232008_100737_0.gif?src=.PNG

^^
Very nice schools indeed. Too bad for the Gary school though.... :ohno:


WestShore Elementary irritates me because most of its windows are blocked up. :gaah:

Blocked up windows in any old building causes it to lose its charm in a way.

Nice pictures. Although these are Miami schools, I thought I'd post some of my favorite Miami school buildings.

Miami Senior High School (1903):
http://flickr.com/photos/boggsindustries/3116428199/
http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/facts/reports/places/Sites/8DA00302_senior.gif
http://k41.pbase.com/o6/21/571721/1/81147906.KURSaCkQ.100yrs_Stingarees_FB_800W.jpg

Coral Gables High School (1950):
http://www.georgerizov.com/images/coral_gables_senior_high_school_04-20-2004_024.jpg

Coral Gables Elementary School (1923):
http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/facts/reports/places/Sites/8DA00352_elementary.gif
http://www.coralgables.com/CGWeb/images/CGES.jpg

Miami Edison Middle School (1928):
http://miamiedisonothg.com/Images/Page%20Pics/Angle-Shot-300.jpg
http://miamiedisonothg.com/Images/Page%20Pics/new%20facade%20closer%20300.jpg

Shenandoah Middle School (1926):
http://shenandoahmiddle.dadeschools.net/images2/school_right.jpg
http://www.georgerizov.com/hi_res/shenandoah_middle_school_08-27-2005_066.jpg


Miami Beach High School (1924, building: 2008):
It's not an old building, but I think it's really neat:
http://www.newyorkcityfocus.com/photo_data/education/public/mbhs/MBHS_EXT_DSK_IMG_2078.jpg

^^
Neat pics...

A Burgert Bros pic of Ballast Point Elementary during construction
http://digital.hcplc.org/burgert/archive01/441.jpg

East Bay down in Gibsonton is the worst. Windows are nonexistent and it pretty much resembles a pizza box.
Not many pictures of it either.
http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schools/images/schools/1322.jpg

^^
How lame :bash:

I helped produce the construction docs for several schools at my last job (doing structural calcs, and then drafting/publishing the resulting shop drawings and callouts for the crews in the field)... None of the designs I worked on were very interesting looking though.

http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schools/images/schools/0921.jpg

Coleman Middle School in west Palma Ceia near WestShore has an architectural style similar to my neighborhood. The oldest buildings have horizontal beams supporting the ceiling/roof and large windows. Similiar to this...

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x304/wslupecki/dataDyneBanquetComplexMainHall1.jpg

The newer buildings are very similar to that of the newer schools (i.e. Alonzo HS)