This 351,000 sq. ft. high school serves 1,600 students in grades 9-12 and contains many unique features. To meet the academic challenges of a diverse, urban student population, and leverage the opportunity to revitalize the inner-city area, the Mansfield District chose an innovative “academy” approach. This school-within-a-school strategy breaks a large population into smaller learning communities, leading to higher student retention and greater academic success.

To meet the goal of inner-city revitalization, the new facility was located on the same downtown site as the old school, and designed to serve as a community center.

Serving academic, vocational, and special needs students in grades 9-12, the design features four independent wings housing the separate career academies as well as state-of-the-art vocational facilities – all accessible to the central common areas and two-story media center. The curved “main street” of the building serves to isolate high activity areas from the quiet academic spaces. The design provides after hours entrance to a 910- seat performing arts theater, which doubles as a hands-on lab for the students.