Team Selected To Build George Mason High School: See Design Plan

The Falls Church School Board has selected a team to design and construct the new George Mason High School. Gilbane Construction with Stantec and Quinn Evans Architects were selected for their proposed design of the campus.

"The design put forth by the Gilbane team is nothing short of brilliant," said Superintendent Peter Noonan in a statement. "It is everything the community has asked for and more. I'm very excited as we now move into the home stretch with engagement between the architects and the community beginning in earnest."

Under the plan, the five-story building will have a front entrance facing the 10-acre parcel of land that's set to become a private development. The plan also connects the existing Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School with the high school.

Some features for the new campus include a shared kitchen between the middle and high schools, an outdoor dining terrace overlooking the athletic fields, outdoor learning terrace and rooftop teaching terrace. The football field, track and baseball field will remain the same, while a new softball complex, multipurpose field and tennis courts will be added.

Security features are in the plan, providing a security vestibule at the entrance, surveillance areas inside and outside, site furnishings restricting vehicular access past the road and perimeter fencing.

The team presented the design to the school board Tuesday and will again to the community Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. at George Mason High School. The school board approved the selection of the design team, and the contract approval will go to City Council on July 23. View the full design plan here.

"This has been a long, thoughtful process," said Noonan. "I hope our community will remain engaged in the coming months as we put the final polish on a plan to build a facility that will be transformational for our students and worthy of our community for the next generation to come."

Groundbreaking for construction is set for the last day of school next year (June 14, 2019). The West Falls Church development project will begin construction in 2021 when the high school project is complete. The city has narrowed proposals for the development to three.

For more information, visit www.fallschurchva.gov/1599/High-School-WFC-Economic-Development-Pro.

(For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Rendering via FCCPS