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James Lawson High School

The design concept for the 300,000-square-foot James Lawson High School draws inspiration from the history and natural beauty of its locale. Adjacent to the Harpeth River, the site was a historic crossroads of industry and commerce where rail lines and roads carried early settlers west and returned raw materials, including timber and Tennessee limestone, east to Nashville.

The school actively engages with the natural beauty of the hills, forests, rivers, and meadows that define the site. The serrated brick façades are informed by the natural stratification of the surrounding limestone. Sculpted by and set into the topography of the site, terraced academic levels open onto landscaped courtyards and outdoor terraces. Full-height glazing in the commons and cafeteria allows abundant natural light to energize the space while framing courtyard views and expansive vistas of the rolling site.

Drawing on the site’s history as a place of meeting and passage, the design for the High School establishes a crossroads of learning, bringing together students from diverse backgrounds through the school’s Professional Academies. Organized along a light-filled central corridor, each academy’s unique focus and work is on display for all students to experience, simultaneously projecting an individual “house” identity while inviting students to continue to explore and learn.

To mitigate environmental disruption of the hillside landscape, athletic facilities — with their large field footprints — are sited in lower, flatter zones. In addition, low-impact development strategies employ high-efficiency geothermal air conditioning systems and rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing or diverted to bioretention areas that display sustainability as a learning opportunity. The building is oriented to take advantage of solar exposure to control thermal comfort and natural light while minimizing glare. A large, roof-mounted photovoltaic system will harvest solar power. The project is pursuing LEED Silver certification.

Location
Nashville, Tennessee
Size
300,000 square feet
Client
Metro Nashville Public Schools
Recognition
AIA Middle Tennessee, Merit Award
AGC Build Tennessee, Award of Excellence
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