Are High-Rise Schools Coming to Reston, Herndon?

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a comprehensive plan amendment that would possibly lead to high-rise schools throughout the county, with areas like Reston and Herndon singled out as good candidates due to the fact they are such high-development areas.

The problem that officials are attempting to address is that these areas don't have locations where a school could be built that is large enough to keep up with the growth of the surrounding area, and the high value of the real estate would make construction prohibitively expensive.

As a result, Fairfax County officials believe they'll need to get more creative, and are proposing to put schools and education facilities in "activity centers," or high-rise buildings nearer to public transit.

"Fairfax County’s targeting of growth and development in activity centers such as Baileys Crossroads, Richmond Highway, Reston, Seven Corners and Tysons will result in a need for more vertical schools," a staff report released by the county states. "Generally, activity centers do not have available sites large enough to accommodate schools and education facilities built in the low density form typically found in Fairfax County.

"Additionally, acquiring sites in activity centers large enough for low density school facilities is costly," the report continues. "Future schools and education facilities in activity centers will need to be compatible with the higher densities, mix of uses, and pedestrian and transit accessibility found in such areas."

The report points to an office building in Seven Corners that was turned into a school in September 2014, and now houses Bailey's Upper Elementary School for the Arts & Sciences.

"There will be a greater need for alternative education facilities and transitional schools in the future," the report states. "In response to changing demographics and instructional needs, buildings designed for commercial uses may be particularly suitable for these types of facilities, as well as have the potential for community use."

Image via Flickr user Peyton Chung