Bowie Gridley Architects is proud to announce the opening of Wakefield High School – Arlington County’s newest 21st century learning environment. The new 400,000sf, three-story replacement facility is the culmination of extensive planning and design that began in 2006. Various members of the Arlington County, Virginia community worked with the BGA and Arlington Public Schools (APS) team to create a flexible and sustainable environment that supports academic achievement for more than 1600 students.
A team of architects, engineers and specialty consultants worked together with the APS and the County to create a universally accessible, technology-rich learning and recreational environment for the entire community. Smart boards and projectors located throughout academic classrooms support new teaching methodologies. Special “nodes” with display and exhibit facilities related to various academic subject areas and academic neighborhoods encourage students to gather informally outside classrooms, while providing a venue for collaborative project-based learning. At the heart of the academic portion of the building is the science node directly off of the 16 science labs. A 635-seat auditorium, a 180 seat studio theater and related rehearsal and studio spaces accommodate a variety of lectures, gatherings, performances and visual arts programs. Athletic facilities include a competition gymnasium with “seating in the round” for all-school events, and a variety of weight training, wrestling and related athletic instructional and support facilities. A state-of-the-art aquatic center with separate pools for competition, diving, and special swimming instruction allows for school and independent community use. In addition to academic spaces, the new facility features a cafeteria and café areas, a large library/media center, a “town hall commons” with an adjacent outdoor courtyard, an academic courtyard, and an outdoor amphitheater — all designed to enhance learning through interactive projects and social activities, in keeping with current educational theory.
The sustainability goal of the design was to reduce the building’s energy consumption and the water runoff from the nearby 4 Mile Run. A high performance building envelope and rooftop-mounted photovoltaics and evacuated tubes, 100% geothermal system, daylight harvesting among other features maximize energy efficiency of the building, which consumes 50% less energy than a typical building of its size. A video dashboard monitor in the commons allows students and visitors to understand how each system contributes to the overall energy efficiency of the building. Rainwater is collected off the roof and parking lots into a 255,000 gallon cistern and used to flush toilets and irrigate the new Phase II baseball and softball fields. The building slated to receive LEED Gold Certification.
BGA Principal, Paul Lund, AIA, LEED AP noted “With the completion of the first phase of the project, the community has achieved a new milestone in its goal of creating a high performance learning environment in Arlington County, connecting together neighborhoods with safe pedestrian and bicycle circulation routes, and creating one of the most energy efficient buildings in Arlington.”
A dedication of the new Wakefield High School is planned to be held on September 22.
Founded in 1981, Bowie Gridley Architects specializes in work for institutions of community significance – academic and student life facilities for major schools and universities, performing arts centers, libraries, athletic and recreational facilities, museums and cultural centers. The architecture, planning and interior design firm is based in historic Georgetown and works with clients throughout the U.S and abroad.
