Washington-Lee High School

Location: 1300 North Quincy Street

First Shovel of Dirt: April 2006

Doors Open:

• Phase I: Academic Wing - Dec 2007
• Phase II: School completed - July 2009
• Phase III: Parking & Fields - Dec 2009

Parking: 662 parking spaces

Just the Facts:

• The new Washington-Lee High School will have a four-story academic wing along with a large gym, ten lane swimming pool, 800 seat theater, and two new rectangular athletic fields (in addition to the current stadium).
• Once completed, the facility is expected to qualify for LEED Silver certification (the LEED program strives to minimize the environmental impact and improve the energy efficiency and performance of the building).
  • Bicycle storage units for 5% of building occupants.
  • A vegetated or "green" roof will reduce storm water run-off while reflective, white roof elements will reduce energy costs.
  • Bathroom and kitchen fixtures will reduce water consumption by 40%.
  • Mechanical equipment and insulation materials selected to reduce energy needs by 20 - 30%.
  • Use of recycled materials in construction where feasible.
• During their regularly scheduled meeting on March 16, 2006, the Arlington School Board awarded a $84,509,000 contract to Hess Construction Company to build the new Washington-Lee High School. The contract includes the demolition and reconstruction of the high school.
• The swimming pool will not be demolished until the new pool is complete and operational. More information...
• The auditorium will not be replaced until summer 2009. The school drama program has been performing in other theater facilities throughout the County (their winter production of The Laramie Project was presented at Kenmore School) and the school's "Little Theater" will not be demolished until the new auditorium is complete.

Highlights:

• The four story academic building will be wrapped around a courtyard to provide daylight into interior spaces. all classrooms, labs and offices will be wired for computers and wireless hubs will be installed throughout the building. There will be eight computer labs including one music lab, a math lab, an entrepreneurial lab, a writing lab and a cyber cafe.
• The school will include 16 science labs. three business labs, three large rooms for musical instruction, a cafeteria that opens out to the track, and a library media center. The new building will also include an 800 seat auditorium, a 16,500 square foot gymnasium, and two pools -- one competition pool with both 25 yard and 25 meter lanes (ten lanes) and a diving area, and one smaller instructional pool. Two additional soccer fielded will be created on the Quincy Street side.
• The track and stadium will be preserved. In 2005, synthetic surf was installed in the stadium; in fall of 2006, the existing stadium lights were retrofitted with "dark sky" features.

For more information

• Official Washington and Lee High School site
• Arlington County Schools - W&L construction updates.