Washington-Lee High School named Top High School!

February 23, 2010

Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA has been named the Top High School of 2010 by the Virginia Educational Facility Planners (VEFP) and Council for Educational Facilities Planners (CEFPI).  The VEFP Facility awards recognize outstanding educational facilities that serve the needs of students, staff, and the community while facilitating student achievement. Emphasizing the connection between the planning process and the end result--a healthy, high-performing school facility--these awards uniquely assess how well a school facility supports the academic program of the school district.

Washington-Lee HS is a four-story new construction that replaces the previous academic facility, originally built in 1924 on the same site.  Through a three-year phased school replacement that prevented the need for student relocation and temporary classrooms, Arlington County's oldest school has transformed into a LEED-Gold, state-of-the-art facility.

Informal learning spaces were planned throughout the school, including a large balcony off the Media Center, a plaza/amphitheater outside the Dining Room, and a Cyber Café.  The entire school was outfitted for wireless internet to make these spaces active learning zones.

Other project highlights include:
   * 2,000 sf of flexible instruction and exhibit space
   * State-of-the-art 800-seat auditorium with professional quality lighting, dimming, rigging and audio
   * 16,000 sf gymnasium
   * Alumni conference room with display and storage space