Merit Award – Renovation / Addition PK-5
Ware and McSwain Elementary Schools
Staunton City Public Schools
VMDO Architects
Merit Award – Renovation / Addition 6-12
Daniel Morgan Middle School
Winchester City Public Schools
VMDO Architects
Honorable Mention – New Construction 6-12
A primary challenge in the design of this 1,800-student, 295,000 SF new high school was laying out the school to support educational philosophies that change over time. Programmatically, it should be able to function as either a traditional high school with departments grouped together or as separate grade level houses. In order to allow for this flexibility of use, the upper two floors of the three-story academic wing contain four clusters of spaces. Each cluster includes classrooms, special education, project labs, business labs, smaller testing and seminar rooms, and a large teacher planning area. The science labs are centrally located in the core of the building in order to serve the clusters and provide for economy of construction. Additionally, although the school would be modern, the Owner and community wanted the exterior to project a neo-traditional appearance reflective of a long school history. The resulting school incorporates all of the latest technology innovations, while remaining true to the history and spirit of the community it serves.
Merit Award – New Construction 6-12
Fredericksburg's new James Monroe High School design houses 1,000 students with expansion capabilities to 1,200. Prominently located on US Route 1, the new school was designed to fit on the existing high school site which allowed the existing high school to operate while the new school was constructed. It includes a 1,000-seat auditorium and 1,800-seat gymnasium, which is accessible to the public for after hours use with ample parking provided for staff and student use. The two-story academic wings open onto exterior courtyards that provide daylighting opportunities into each classroom and also create a pleasant outdoor campus environment. With generous public support and input into the school's design, the new school incorporates many features found in the neighboring historic district that makes James Monroe High School a Fredericksburg landmark.