Chapel Hill High School
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

  • Students pass security vestibule when entering the school in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Main entry with security vestibule

  • Students congregate in main corridor in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Main corridor

  • Students pass through corridors on the way to class in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    View of main corridor from second floor

  • Students read in the media center in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Media center

  • Students sit on flexible seating in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Classroom with flexible seating configurations

  • Students at desks in automotive technology classroom in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Automotive technology classroom

  • Students practice working on a fire apparatus in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Public safety training classroom

  • Students prepare food in a culinary arts classroom in Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Culinary arts classroom

  • Students build set on stage in the auditorium of Chapel Hill High School, a renovated K-12 facility in North Carolina

    Auditorium

  • Students gather in outdoor learning space at Chapel Hill High School, renovated in 2020

    Outdoor learning space

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The modernization of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ oldest operating high school required a balance between honoring an existing community’s rich history and providing a state-of-the-art learning environment for generations to come. This expansion and addition project increased student capacity, eliminated 12 mobile units, improved security, and provided a future-focused redesign to support 21st century learning.

The redesign essentially rotated the facility, establishing a new main entrance at what had been the back of the school. With this, the school’s main entrance now faces and connects to neighboring middle and elementary school campuses. The modernization also called for the demolition of two original buildings, as well as construction of two new connector buildings between the remaining two structures.

Converting from an open to a closed campus improved security an created a secure courtyard for outdoor learning and social opportunities. Inside, core curricular departments remain centralized, with classrooms clustered around extended learning labs that provide breakout spaces for collaborative learning. Career technical education (CTE) spaces are dispersed throughout to allow improved opportunities for project-based learning.

Overall, this project comprised a reversal of the previously open campus with multiple enclosed, low-ceilinged buildings to an open, dynamic facility configured on a more secure campus.

Awards + Recognition

  • Outstanding Design in Renovation/Modernization, Architectural Portfolio, American School & University, 2023
  • Outstanding Project Award, Learning by Design, 2023
Services
Architecture
Interior Design
Construction Administration
Sustainability