Context

Originally constructed in 1939 as a vocational school, Dorothy Height Elementary School has served as several different educational facilities before DCPS took control of operations in 2015. A citywide school located in Ward 4, Dorothy Height Elementary consisted of the 1939 main building and the annex, a 1925 building that served as a school for children with tuberculosis. A drive aisle connected the main building and the annex, but posed as a safety concern to students crossing from one building to the other. In addition to the safety risk presented by the detached buildings, the school did not meet modern education standards.

Solution

CGS Architect’s modernization connects the main building and the annex while thoughtfully preserving the buildings’ historic character. In place of the drive aisle, a two-story addition merges the disconnected buildings and provides space to meet program needs. The new, ADA compliant main entry, accessed via the addition, opens up to a double height commons and a cafeteria, illuminated by skylights.

Although located on a tight urban site, CGS Architects’ design maximizes outdoor space. The addition features a roof terrace accessed from the third floor level of the main building and age specific outdoor areas at grade.