After celebrating 101 years of education, the Saint Gertrude High School students and faculty have a new two-story 60,000 SF high school. The result combines history with the future of learning.

The students wanted the building to focus on natural light and community gathering spaces – we think our team delivered with 30-foot-tall windows overlooking the James River. It also includes a Chapel, a Grand Hall for school gatherings, a dining hall, classrooms, labs, and admin offices.

The highly collaborative construction process meant close communication between the students, staff, and design team. In the end, no detail was overlooked–from the railings and floors adorned with medals of St. Benedict to the stone fireplace in the great hall and the locker lounges where students gather. The project also won a juried Learning by Design 2023 Outstanding Project Award.