Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Renovation and Addition

Alexandria, Virginia

Firm

Ballou Justice Upton Architects

Client

Fairfax County Public Schools

Area

398,833 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$75,000,000

Completion Date

01/2016

The architect is providing architectural/engineering services for the renovation of 265,570 square feet and an 133,263-square-foot addition to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), situated in Fairfax County.

TJHSST is a Virginia Academic-Year Governor’s School that provides an innovative, specialized learning environment for highly motivated students who have a genuine interest in biology, physics, math, technology and computer sciences.

In the early stages of the project, several goals were established:

•Create a flexible learning environment that supports TJHSST’s focus on collaboration and project-based learning.

•Foster flexibility through diversity; a variety of learning space sizes gives teachers and students the flexibility to choose the right space.

•Celebrate science and technology in the architecture of the building.

•Create more visual and physical connections to the courtyards, and use them more effectively.

•Create a high-performance building that uses energy efficiently and seeks harmony with the natural environment for students and teachers to do their best work.

•Transform the building into a living textbook.