This project will provide a new 347,549 SF new high school designed to house 2,400 students. The school is located on a site of approximately 100 acres off Dominion Boulevard between Shillelagh Road and West Road. The construction contract for the new high school was awarded to W. M. Jordan Company. The new high school is scheduled to open in September 2007.

The Planning Principal for the new high school in the Grassfield area is Carolyn Bernard. The Planning office for the new school is temporarily located in the New Construction offices at the Educational Services Center at 369 Battlefield Boulevard South. The phone number for the Planning office for the new high school is 547-2095.

The school is organized around the idea of a school within a school and is broken down into four smaller areas called houses. The purpose of these houses is to give a sense of a smaller school community within the larger school. Each house will be home to five to six hundred students within the larger 2,400 student school. The design for this school is flexible and can operate under a house (smaller school within a larger school) philosophy, or as a traditional high school.

In the school within a school philosophy, the school can be divided up in a number of ways. For example, there may be one 9th grade house and three other areas that each house grades 10 through 12 or, as in the case of the new high school, each of the four houses may be assigned to a separate grade level. This philosophy minimizes student travel for all core classes and numerous electives. The school within a school approach allows students to stay within their house for a majority of the school day and provides teachers, guidance counselors and assistant principals with the familiarity that is enjoyed in a small school. These smaller groupings of students provide many benefits for the students' educational experiences. This design concept represents a significant contrast with previous high schools in Chesapeake.

Classrooms will include additional windows designed for daylighting which research shows has a positive impact on student learning. Daylighting refers to the introduction of natural reflected light into the classrooms. The daylighting, while improving the academic experience, will also reduce building energy costs by minimizing or eliminating the need for artificial lighting during primary daytime use. Light fixtures with dimming ballasts automatically reduce the artificial lighting in response to reflected daylight. This in turn allows for reduction in the quantity of mechanical equipment needed to cool the space.

Other sustainable design features include waterless urinals, light colored roof materials that reflect heat resulting in lower heating and cooling requirements, and occupancy sensors that keep lights turned off when rooms are not in use.

The public or activity portion of the facility is designed with the pedestrian mall approach that allows for a logical organization of different major functions while offering a means of pedestrian control. The main corridor is circular in shape and connects central administration, gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium and media center. The courtyard provides natural light to the interior and a visual link for school orientation. It is a protected outdoor environment which students can use as an extension to the cafeteria in nice weather, as an extension of the art labs, or as a place where students can gather for social interaction without risk of unauthorized visitors.

The cafeteria is served by five food court style stations, each with a different menu. Students will be able to have lunch in the adjoining courtyard under a protective canopy if desired. The cafeteria will seat 800 students and will include natural lighting.

The school also offers a large group instructional space called the SCHOLA. This space is located near the school's main entrance and is designed for multiple uses. Because of its wide tiers without fixed seating it can be used with either tables and chairs or just chairs. A small stage at the low end will be excellent for either large group instruction or large meetings.

The media center is provided with natural lighting and is centrally located to promote student participation. It is centered between the academic wings and the activities area in order to allow students access during the lunch period. The media center will house about 24,000 volumes of books and is supported by a distance learning lab.

The gymnasium will seat 2,070. When the bleachers are closed it becomes a three court gym with gym divider curtains. The auditorium will seat 1,000 and is surrounded by spaces acoustically designed for band, choral, orchestral, general music studies and drama. The drama lab is directly accessible to the auditorium stage.

All classrooms will be designed to operate in a wireless network environment. Two portable laptop computer labs will be provided to each of the four houses. Building security has been considered through the strategic placement of administrative offices and teacher centers with views to corridors and at key intersections. Each house will have an assistant principal and a guidance counselor assigned to the students in that house. Their offices are decentralized (located remotely from the main administration) and placed on the main student thoroughfare and at the entrance to the house they serve. An office for a security officer is provided and closed circuit television systems are included. Security cameras will cover the interior of the building and the adjacent site.

The approximate 100-acre site includes an 8,000-seat stadium for football and soccer with a walking track for PE and for community use and a separate competition synthetic-surface running track. Features such as a walking track outside of the running track were considered with community use in mind. The school site includes competition baseball, softball, field hockey fields, tennis courts and numerous practice fields to support student and community functions.

Schedule

Substantial Completion is currently scheduled for May 24, 2007. The main playing fields have a Substantial Completion date of September 30, 2006. This earlier completion date for the main plying fields is intended to give the turf a full season of growth to establish itself before use by the school.

Open to Students - September 2007

Site

97.58 acres

777 staff/visitor parking spaces, 34 bus parking spaces (parking includes 15 accessible parking spaces)

Capacity

2,400 students, 175-200 faculty and staff

Size

347,549 square feet (SF)

Facilities

135 classrooms and labs include:

General Classrooms 55

Foreign Language 7

Special Education 19

Health 4

Science Labs 14

Science Prep Rooms 2

Art Lab 4

Technology Education 10

Business 8

Distance Learning 1

Music/Drama 6

Teen Living 4

ROTC Classroom 1

Athletic Facilities

Competitive Baseball Field, lighted

Competitive Softball Field, lighted

Football/Soccer Stadium, 8,000 seats, lighted

8-Lane Competition Synthetic-Surfaced Track and Field, lighted

Field Hockey Field, lighted

8 Tennis Courts, lighted

Baseball Practice Field

Softball Practice Field

Football Practice Field

Band Practice Field

Soccer Practice/Play Fields

Gymnasium

Competition Basketball Court

3 Basketball Practice Courts

3 Volleyball Courts

Seating for 2070

Weight Room

Wrestling Room

Boy's and Girl's physical education locker rooms

Academic Facilities

Media Center seats 100

Auditorium seats 1000

Cafeteria seats 800, with separate faculty dining seating 25

Faculty offices with work spaces, storage rooms and toilets