A method and apparatus to eliminate the problem of requiring sizing of the row and column decoders according to the pitch of the cells in the memory array is to decouple the decoder cell pitch from the memory cell pitch without causing the chip area to increase dramatically. Decoupling is accomplished by driving the array from both sides for row drivers and by driving the array from both the top and bottom for column drivers. This is achieved in one embodiment by driving alternating rows from opposite sides for row decoders. Even numbered rows are driven from one side and odd numbered rows are driven from the other side. Alternating columns are driven from both the top and bottom. For example, odd numbered columns are driven from the top while even numbered columns are driven from the bottom. In a second embodiment, predetermined rows are driven from one side while the others are driven from the other side. Similarly, predetermined columns may be driven from the top while the others are driven from the bottom. Rows 1 and 2 are driven from one side, rows 3 and 4 from the other, etc. Also, rows 1.about.3 may be driven from one side and rows 4.about.6 from the other. Columns 1 and 2 may be driven from the top, 3 and 4 from the bottom, 5 and 6 from the top, etc. Again, columns 1.about.3 may be driven from the top and columns 4.about.6 driven from the bottom.