Gardiner Middle School

As any school-aged parent in 2021 knows, touring your child’s new school is not an option during COVID. To give families and the community a peek into the new Gardiner Middle School, Principal Rebekah Beck and Vice Principal Rachel Engstrom take us on a tour of the innovative and beautiful new space. Pence completed construction of Oregon City School District’s Gardiner Middle School in time for students to enjoy its many innovative and useful features in the fall of 2021. The school is organized around learning neighborhoods that promote community among teachers and students through collaboration spaces, flex labs, and innovative technology that brings inclusive and equitable learning experiences to all students.

View the Gardiner Middle School Tour Here

GMS: A Project-Based School

When they set out to design Gardiner Middle School, Oregon City School District’s (OCSD) goal was a project-based, student-centered curriculum. OCSD grounded the Gardiner Middle School design process in meaningful student engagement. Middle schoolers worked alongside teachers and District leaders to explore and research innovative design solutions that reflected their students’ experiences. Instead of classrooms, the school is organized around learning neighborhoods that promote community among teachers and students through collaboration spaces, flex labs, and innovative technology that brings inclusive and equitable learning experiences to all students.

Pence Construction is proud to have partnered with OCSD and the Gardiner Middle School community to bring their project goals to life with the successful delivery of the new GMS school building.

Innovative Project-Based Student Learning Spaces at Gardiner Middle School

Project Highlights

Maker Suite

• Maker lab
• Fab Lab – Fabrication lab with indoor & outdoor spaces
• Design Lab – 22 computers

Timber Hall

• Learning stairs
• Open spaces with collaborative seating
• State-of-the-art theater and stage with doors designed specifically for GMS – hollow inside to make it easy to open during performances
• Walkway in between neighborhoods to active learning
• Choir room
• Band room – instrument locker room

Learning Neighborhoods 

• Cubbies for each student
• Open collaboration spaces
• “Front-row” sound system technology
• Flex lab space
• Nano-walls