Architect：ABHA Architects

Location：401 E 12th St, Wilmington, DE 19801, United States; | ;View Map

Category：Secondary Schools

Howard High School has a long and vibrant history, going back over 150 years to 1867. This actual building was originally opened in 1927. Above is a photo of the auditorium from 1930.

The school was designated a National Historic Landmark in April 2005 because of its association with the 1954 Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court case that found racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Howard High School is also known as the only place in Delaware where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made an official, public speech. The speech was delivered on September 12, 1960 in front of more than 1,300 people in the very same auditorium pictured above.

In preparation for the renovation of this building, 10 people from the architecture firm, the school and county officials visited an existing local Skyfold project and were absolutely amazed by its ease of use, functionality and acoustical performance. This was critical to Skyfold’s selection as “product of choice” to divide four classroom spaces and the auditorium stage. Also crucial was Skyfold’s willingness, help and support to create a graphic for the auditorium wall that resembled the original handmade raised panel divider in the photo above. See the stunning results below.

Skyfold walls were also used in four classrooms. Everyone in the school loves the walls! They related a story with a lot of pride about the Superintendent of Schools speaking on the stage during the Grand Opening. While she was finishing her remarks, they quietly began to retract the Skyfold wall behind her. The audience reaction was a loud gasp of amazement followed by roaring applause -- for her speech or the wall?

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