Heritage High School

After nearly four decades without a new high school, Lynchburg City unveiled Heritage High School—a blend of specialized learning facilities, collaborative spaces, and community resources. Behind its doors, students pursue everything from culinary arts to computer technology in spaces engineered for hands-on learning and discovery.

Collaborative Design Process

The project began with a three-day design workshop involving over 45 community stakeholders, including school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community leaders. This approach established the project's vision and initial program adjacencies, which guided the design team's work. Throughout the process, detailed consultations with teachers, school administration, facilities staff, and technology teams ensured the building would meet specific educational and operational needs.

Educational Spaces

The school includes comprehensive academic facilities and specialty spaces for career technology education. Students use dedicated areas for building and construction trades, design and engineering, health occupations, cosmetology, early childhood development, computer hardware repair, and culinary arts. The facility includes spaces for visual and performing arts, with art studios, drama facilities, and rooms for chorus, orchestra, and band.

Technology Integration

Heritage High School incorporates technology throughout its campus. The entire facility provides wireless access to internal networks and the internet. Collaboration rooms in each classroom wing offer both wired and wireless stations with various input and display configurations, supporting new teaching and learning approaches.

Design Features

Every instructional space has exterior views and natural light, creating an engaging environment for learning. The building uses low-maintenance materials with inherent color schemes to minimize long-term maintenance needs. Advanced LED lighting throughout the facility allows maximum flexibility in instructional spaces while reducing operational costs. The school contains a 2,200-seat gymnasium with a 133-meter indoor track, a 600-seat auditorium, and a media center with social hub spaces. Science laboratories support core classroom instruction, while a forum area serves multiple purposes including staff meetings and performances. The art studios connect to an outdoor courtyard, and an outdoor learning lab supports biology and ecology studies.

Safety and Security

The school's design emphasizes security and efficient movement. Multiple stairwells help manage foot traffic, while the layout enables administrators to maintain clear sightlines of multiple hallways and locker bays simultaneously. Security features include card access at major public entries, a secure vestibule at the main entrance, and digital IP cameras connected to the school network for real-time video monitoring.

Community Access

Heritage High School functions as a community resource beyond regular school hours. Public spaces, including the gymnasium, media center, forum, and auditorium, are open for community use. The career center remains accessible after hours and on weekends for both student and adult career exploration. The outdoor athletic facilities, including the track, baseball, and softball fields, are available for public use outside of school hours.

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