Europe District, partners build 21st-century schools for Spangdahlem Air Base.

Construction on the Department of Defense Education Activity-Europe’s 21st-century middle and high schools at Spangdahlem Air Base is at 23 percent. The schools, which will share a commons area, are scheduled to open for the 2019-2020 school year.

21st-century schools transform the traditional school setting to a global classroom concept in a two-story facility. A neighborhood encompasses a central hub with 4 to 5 learning studios (21st-century classrooms), a teacher collaboration area, small group rooms and one-to-one learning rooms. Moveable walls maximize flexibility within the neighborhood.

The schools will have gyms; information centers; computer and science labs; music and culinary arts rooms; counseling areas, learning-impaired rooms; softball, soccer and football fields; tennis courts, and a track.

Sustainability and energy-saving concepts are also designed in these buildings to save taxpayer dollars and help preserve environmental resources for future generations. The features include: a green roof covering more than half of the total roof area; onsite solar-power generation through a photovoltaic array; low-flow plumbing to reduce water use by more than 40 percent as compared to a similar building; and, energy-conservation measures to amount to almost 40 percent savings in energy costs.