press release

Major Renovations coming to Fauquier High School

March 22, 2010
By William Wilcox

A $25 million renovation to FHS will begin this summer and will include a new four story building at the front of the school. This building will make use of green technology and natural light to create a more energy efficient learning space.

“I think [the renovations] are necessary,” sophomore Troy Soaper said. “I think that making the school green is necessary.”

The construction will begin over the summer and will go on throughout the 2010-2011 school year and should be complete the following summer. The decision to push forward with the project was influenced by the economy and the availability of less expensive labor.

“I think it will save the taxpayers a lot of money because it’s a buyer’s market,” Principal Roger Sites said. “I hope because of these savings that they’ll be able to renovate places like the cafeteria and the locker rooms. I think that it’s important that some areas are not left out of the renovations because these renovations really need to be a total package.”

Under the renovation plan, the four story addition with new classrooms will be erected on the south side of the campus, where the flag pole is currently located, before any current spaces are demolished or renovated.

“Some disruption will undoubtedly result from the construction adjacent to the existing building, but the construction will be contained in the area just south of the current front entrance,” VMDO architect Bob Moje said. “Hopefully, this will minimize disturbance to the academic spaces. We hope that the construction process will be a learning opportunity for students and faculty in itself.”

The administration will not make a final plan on student parking until they receive final plans from the architects, but currently they are looking at using as much of the senior lot as possible and assigning any other needed spaces to the gravel lot.

“The size difference between the current junior and senior classes would make the most difference,” Assistant Principal Jim Raines said. “The gravel lot was empty at the beginning of the year so I don’t think it’ll be much of a problem.”

Faculty members agree that, while construction may be a distraction, it is necessary and will not interrupt learning.

“I think it would be fool-hearted to say there will be no distraction, but this is an optimal plan, other than completely building offsite,” Sites said. “We’re blessed we only have one classroom on the front side of the school. Outside activities that take place on the front lawn may face problems.”

Eventually the 100 and 200 hallway will be demolished to create green space that will be converted into a large central amphitheatre. Part of the senior parking lot will be used as a construction staging area. This area will be repaved and available for use when the construction is finished.

The new buildings will be built with green initiatives in mind to benefit the environment, energy efficiency, and the health of students and faculty.

“The building is antiquated,” Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Lewis said. “The Science labs aren’t adequate. The classroom spaces don’t take advantage of sunlight. I think the building served its purpose, but now it’s time for change.”

The rooms will be oriented north to south to take advantage of passive solar heating. The building will include large open sunlit spaces.

“It’s important they’re renovating the school because bigger classrooms and wider hallways would improve the overall feel,” math teacher Ann Meyer said. “The heating air conditioning needs to be changed. More learning would go on if we weren’t always too hot or too cold.”

The building will include sunshades on southern windows to avoid glare and protect the windows from solar heat gain. Light shelves will be put on south facing windows to reflect more sunlight into the classrooms. Classrooms lighting systems will include photo-sensors that will dim the lights depending on the amount of natural light in the room. Preference will be given to materials made in part from recycled material. There is also a possibility that rainwater harvesting equipment will be installed on the roof to would collect water that could be used for flushing toilets and janitorial purposes.

“I think we need to be stewards to the earth and teach students that we value that,” Lewis said.

The design will seek to make it easier for students to work and travel within the new building. A four story structure will not only be more cost effective, but climbing stairs will also promote student health.

“The Fauquier [High School] renovation will attempt to extend the classroom space and create an environment of open learning,” Moje said. “Grouping classrooms into learning communities and providing space both for group and individual study outside of the classrooms walls will be an important part of the new classroom and circulation design. Enhanced teacher resource areas will provide places for collaboration and new circulation patterns will help students make the most of their time between classes.”

The original parts of the school, including the old cafeteria and the 100/200 hallway have not been fully renovated since the building opened in 1963.

“If the renovation of FHS wasn’t an urgent problem, then people could question doing this now, but this way we’ll be able to get this done at an ideal price,” Lewis said. “This is the ideal time from a business standpoint, and when you’re spending $25 million, you have to take a business standpoint.”

VMDO Architects was founded in 1976 and is the youngest firm to receive the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Virginia Society of American Institute of Architects.

For further information, interview, and photography opportunities in reference to this project and VMDO Architects, please contact William Bishop at 434.296.5684, email at bishop@vmdo.com.