Firm Completes Design of $13.5 Million Westgate Elementary Renovation

Cooper Carry has completed the design of a 50,000-square-foot renovation and a 40,000-square-foot addition at Westgate Elementary School in Falls Church, the company announced Wednesday. 

Westgate renovations are intended to increase its capacity from 397 students to 750 students. Westgate was last renovated in 1984. FCPS has budgeted $13,548,463 for the renovation of Westgate.

Construction on the site will begin before the end of the year. Cooper Carry is working with Fairfax County Public schools to oversee the design and construction of the school. Construction of the project is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2015.

“We are committed to delivering environments that are tailored to the unique needs of each individual school,” said Lauren Perry Ford, senior associate at Cooper Carry. “Our work on Westgate Elementary School continues to be rewarding and we are thrilled to be a part of such an important project. We look forward to the day that the students move into their new classrooms and hope the new school further inspires the children to learn about and explore the world around them.”

The project includes the renovation and modernization of existing facilities which will include classrooms, a cafeteria and a gymnasium. The new addition will house an administrative office, library and additional classroom wing. 

The school will also feature sustainable elements, including proper solar orientation, high-performance HVAC systems, day lighting, a white roof and outdoor learning spaces. These outdoor “classrooms” can serve as spaces for student gardens, featuring rainwater harvesting and a sundial to reinforce the relationship between the sun and our natural environment.

The building is designed to meet recently adapted Virginia Collaborative for High Performance Schools Standards (CHPS), a state-specific system for the design and construction of high-performance school buildings. The goal of CHPS is to provide guides for developing energy efficient, comfortable, environmentally responsible and healthy learning spaces. It will be one of the first schools in the state to be designed to CHPS standards.

Cooper Carry’s K-12 practice group has developed a proven collaborative design process focused on understanding and articulating the goals and visions of a school, its stakeholders, and most importantly, the teachers and students. The firm has worked on a variety of public and private schools throughout the country.