PROJECT SCRAPBOOK:

Learning by Design

Community connections elevate a new high school.

BY TRISH DONNALLY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUDY DAVIS

Alexandria City High School (ACHS) at the Minnie Howard Campus in Alexandria, VA, is a model of equity—designed to significantly enrich the student experience and strengthen community connections. Its amenities, including the Teen Wellness Center, Student and Family Resource Center, Early Childhood Center, and a new aquatic complex, all with separate entrances, foster inclusive learning and engagement.

At the heart of this school for 1,600 students is the visionary Creative Commons atrium, a dynamic space that blends Career and Technical Education (CTE) and specialty labs with social areas and dining services, creating a collegiate atmosphere. ACHS is LEED Gold certified and net zero ready.

Minnie Howard Campus Site Plan
(School Displaying Level 02 Floor Plan)

PLAN © PERKINS EASTMAN
SECTION © PERKINS EASTMAN

1 The Creative Commons transforms the traditional, institutional-style cafeteria, which would normally occupy a single sprawling space on one level, into a series of dining areas distributed vertically across all five floors of the school. Providing a student-centered ambiance for dining and socialization, these spaces become extensions of the surrounding arts, science, and CTE spaces during the rest of the school day.

2 In addition to classrooms for traditional academic curriculum, the school design accommodates enhanced CTE pathways, with links to local industries in fields like renewable energy, aerospace, cybersecurity, and surgical tech. Creating a healthy, high-performance place to learn sets students on a lifelong path to healthier, happier, more productive lives.

3 The community plays a large role in the new campus. The state-funded Teen Wellness Center has an on-site clinic, run by the Alexandria Health Department. A city-run Student and Family Resource Center operated by the Department of Community and Human Services has a home on the campus too. These two services, plus a 100-student Early Childhood Center that offers a Head Start program, are meant to serve and enhance student well-being and the resilience of the larger Alexandria community. The school is also designed to welcome community use of its aquatic center, gym facilities, and fields after hours when operated by the Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities.

“As I stand here, my heart is full, knowing that this building is not just a structure but a symbol of our commitment to ensuring the equitable access to the best education for every student in Alexandria. It’s a place where dreams will be nurtured, talents will be cultivated, and opportunities will abound for years to come.”

—ALICIA HART

ACPS Chief Operating Officer

Alexandria City High School: Minnie Howard Campus
3701 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA

Client: Alexandria City Public Schools
Program: Primary and secondary education and social services
Size: 343,410 sf
Site: 12 acres
Completion: 2024
Architect and Education Planner: Perkins Eastman
Design Team: Sean O’Donnell, principal in charge; Omar Calderón Santiago, project designer; Ken Terzian, construction administrator; Huyen Nguyen, Sogol Alesafar
Associate Architect: Maginniss + del Ninno Architects
Consultants: CMTA Inc. (MEP/FP/IT/AV/security); Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (civil/site/landscape); Ehlert Bryan Inc. (structural engineer); Polysonics Corp. (acoustics); ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC (geotechnical/hazmat); Heller & Metzger, PC (specifications); Downey & Scott, LLC (cost estimator); Aquatic Design Group, Inc. (pool planning and design); Nyikos Garcia Foodservice Design, Inc. (food service); Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (envelope/life safety)
Construction: Gilbane Building Company
Sustainability: LEED Gold and net zero ready

4 To address projected high school enrollment in the city and avoid the need to build two potentially socioeconomically disparate high schools, the board of Alexandria City Public Schools established an innovative Connected High School Network that promises to help create a better, more equitable, and richer learning environment for all its students. Students travel between the ACHS King Street and Minnie Howard campuses enjoying the best of both. At the ribbon cutting for the new campus, ACPS Chief Operating Officer Alicia Hart spoke of the school’s impact: “As I stand here, my heart is full, knowing that this building is not just a structure but a symbol of our commitment to ensuring the equitable access to the best education for every student in Alexandria. It’s a place where dreams will be nurtured, talents will be cultivated, and opportunities will abound for years to come.” N

DIAGRAM © PERKINS EASTMAN