Stevenson Middle School

The State of Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) awarded the design of the Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School Science and Technology Center to Ferraro Choi in 2011.

Founded in 1937, Stevenson Middle School was named after the Scottish novelist and travel writer who had spent considerable time in Hawaii during the late 1800s. In 2008, the school became the DOE’s first Science Signature School (S4) emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Stevenson is also a designated Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) school, in alignment with its mission to utilize innovative, exciting and learner-centered practices.

Completed in 2016, the new science center combines state-of-the-art technology with a highly sustainable architectural design to create a 21^st Century Learning environment for students. The program includes Physical Science, Biology, Earth/Space and STEM/Robotics classrooms, a covered science plaza, and a multipurpose building. A south-facing stargazing telescope deck on the second-floor supplements the school’s astronomy program. The double-height STEM/Robotics space is designed to facilitate viewing of inter-school robotics competitions involving 24 Oahu schools.

The science center’s design supports the school’s stated goals and objectives to create a facility that:

Is highly visible to the community and conveys an emphasis on science and technology through architecture

Promotes excitement and attracts enrollment from a broader spectrum of potential students

Contributes to school and community pride

Is highly functional, innovative, and which embodies a high-performance learning environment