The 259,218-square-foot Eastern View High School, Culpeper, Va., was designed to resemble a school wrapped around a community center. The classrooms, flexible learning areas, auditorium, media center and teacher suite all feature technological tools and spaces designed to promote collaboration, enrich learning and foster a sense of community. Internal glazing and the extensive use of glass give the impression of openness with light spaces, yet also allow for quiet or semi-private areas, helping to facilitate passive supervision, showcase learning and promote security.
Each grade level has its own house surrounding a resource area that uses a large skylight to bring natural light into interior spaces. The flexible space can be used for student collaboration, small-group instruction or large-group exercises.
The school, designed to receive LEED certification, incorporates natural ventilation, polished concrete floors, lighting controls, Energy Star-compliant roofing and geothermal wells. In addition, it was sited to protect and incorporate existing wetlands on the 67-acre property.
Architect is SHW Group (Reston, Va.).
