Anacostia High School

Once the symbol of extreme neglect and the scene of the murder of a student, Anacostia High School represented the pain of its community. Residents requested it be torn down. However, the modernization of the iconic 200,000 SF Anacostia High School now serves as a functional and symbolic window to the future of its 1,200-student population. The design supports the academic mission of the District while highlighting a historic 1930s landmark building. Interior restoration efforts focused on the restoration of significant historic spaces, such as the auditorium and gymnasium. The renovation effort targeted classrooms, and, by utilizing found spaces, such as the attic and basement, a new media center and light-filled cafeteria were made possible. The redesign of exterior entries improves security for the school by regulating circulation to the campus’s many shared facilities. In addition, this significant effort brought the facility up to current building code and accessibility standards. The design also leverages art as a primary design feature. In collaboration with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, a local artist was commissioned to work with students to create murals that were screen printed and displayed as a design feature throughout the corridors of the building.

The use of innovative green building strategies for existing and historic structures resulted in a new school facility that is LEED Gold. The building includes vegetated green roofs on appropriate flat roof areas and utilizes a cistern to collect rainwater that is used to flush toilets throughout the building.

This work was designed and completed by Suman Sorg while at Sorg Architects.