Design Options
R2 (Renovation 2)
This option is a renovation of the existing high school that retains the current building footprint while delivering significant improvements to the facility. Athletic fields, including the track, are not part of this scope. Exterior work will be limited — focusing on bringing walkways, ramps, and adjacent spaces to the school up to code for accessibility and safety. Inside, the project will upgrade the building to meet modern accessibility and energy efficiency standards.
This includes replacing outdated windows, insulating the exterior walls and roof, and enhancing the building envelope to meet current energy codes. New mechanical systems will replace the aging, maintenance-heavy infrastructure, and plumbing and electrical systems will be completely overhauled — all brought up to code. Floors and ceilings will be replaced, and all remaining walls will receive a fresh coat of paint. The interior layout will be reconfigured where possible, with a primary focus on Career Technical Education programs and science classrooms — ensuring they meet minimum space requirements.
To make this viable, the school’s educational program will need to be revisited and refined. Construction will unfold in approximately 10 phases over 42 months, more or less. Temporary modular classrooms will be necessary to support ongoing instruction during this time. Using more modular classrooms could shorten the construction timeline by allowing more space to be renovated at once — but at a higher cost. Fewer modulars would lower the upfront cost but extend the construction period due to more phases.
It’s important to note that modular classrooms are not reimbursed by the MSBA and represent a sunk cost, used solely to facilitate renovation. The project team will collaborate closely with the contractor to fine-tune phasing and create the smoothest possible transition for students and staff. Option R2 is the most financially affordable path — but it comes with trade-offs: extended construction disruption and the need to adjust educational programming to fit within the limitations of the existing structure.
AR1 (Addition/Renovation 1)
This option is an addition-renovation scheme that blends the old with the new to create a modern, efficient high school. At the heart of this design is the preservation of the existing gym, the Performing Arts Center, and the spaces that connect them — a section built during the mid-1990s. The rest of the existing building, including the original structure and the 1980s addition, would be demolished. A brand-new academic building will rise in the current parking lot in front of the PAC, forming the core of the new school.
There are several site plan configurations being considered for this option. Each explores different arrangements for fields and parking. As currently shown, AR1 includes the track and athletic fields, all planned as natural turf. The goal is to provide enough field space for activity rotation, allowing the land to rest and recover throughout the year. Importantly, the design gives the School Building Committee the flexibility to preserve existing fields and track infrastructure to reduce project costs, if desired. Construction will be phased to keep the school operational throughout the process. Most of the new building will be constructed while the current school remains in use. Much of this new section will be two stories.
On the first floor, the plan includes general classrooms, science labs, the library, art spaces, the cafeteria, and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. A new entrance lobby facing Sanderson Road will act as a connector — bridging the academic wing with the arts, athletics, and CTE areas. It also opens up to a new interior courtyard, creating a pleasant and functional outdoor space. The cafeteria, positioned near the back of the building alongside the PAC, will also have access to outdoor seating via the courtyard.
On the second floor, more academic and science classrooms will be built, along with a guidance suite. This vertical layout reduces the school's footprint and shortens travel distances for students moving between classes — a major improvement over the current, spread-out design. Once the new academic building is complete, students and staff will move in. At that point, the remaining portions of the old building will be taken down, and additional site work will begin. Renovations to the gym, arts, music, and theater spaces — including the PAC — will follow.
These upgrades will be carefully phased to minimize disruption, though there will be periods when these areas are under construction and temporarily unavailable. Option AR1 is the most expensive of the options, though it’s closely followed by the new construction alternative. The full construction timeline is estimated at 36 months, with about 30 months dedicated to building the new facility.
N13 (New Construction 13)
This is Option N13 — a new construction scheme that reimagines the future of the high school, built entirely on the east side of Sanderson Road, where the current athletic fields now sit.
The strength of this approach lies in its ability to minimize disruption. Because construction happens away from the existing school, students and staff can continue their day-to-day learning with minimal impact — aside from any athletic programs that rely on the fields being repurposed for construction. Once the new building is complete, students and staff will move into the new facility. The existing school will then be demolished, and the former school site will be transformed — making room for new fields and expanded parking.
N13 features a thoughtful and efficient two-story design organized into four distinct wings, all connected through a central core — the heart of the school. At the center of this core are the main administration and guidance offices, the library, and the cafeteria — creating a welcoming and functional hub that unites all wings and serves as the school’s central gathering space. Each wing is designed with purpose: One wing houses the gymnasium and other athletic spaces, another is home to the Performing Arts Center, along with music and visual arts spaces, a third brings together the Career Technical Education programs and the final wing contains general classrooms and science labs. This configuration not only improves organization and flow but also offers enhanced security and access control — making it easier to open parts of the building to the community while restricting access to more sensitive academic areas.
As a completely new site, Option N13 provides a unique opportunity to rethink the entire campus layout. It includes plans for natural turf athletic fields, a new track, and redesigned parking and circulation systems for cars, buses, and pedestrians — all carefully planned to ensure safety, efficiency, and future flexibility. The construction duration is estimated to be 36 months for this project. 30 months for the building. This option is comparatively close to AR1 in terms of cost, costing slightly less.