Highland Springs High School

When Highland Springs High School relocated in 2021, it marked the end of a nearly 70-year era in the original 1952 building. The students—who proudly call themselves "Springer Nation"—began learning in spaces designed for connection and discovery. The new building welcomes 1,900 students and over 130 faculty and staff with adaptable classrooms, shared workspaces, and areas where groups naturally gather to exchange ideas.

Design Innovation for Learning

Based on Moseley's successful Glen Allen High School prototype from 2007, Highland Springs High School features significant improvements to support contemporary teaching methods while maintaining the original footprint. The facility's four educational wings incorporate redesigned central cores with collaborative learning areas that open to classrooms on both sides of the hallway. These spaces connect to flexible rooms with sliding glass walls, allowing educators to expand their teaching areas for specific lessons, team projects, or individualized learning.

The school's central feature is its two-story media center, which connects to the second-floor main corridor. A grand learning stair functions as a gathering space, a presentation platform, and a transportation hub between floors. Students use a small café beneath the stair for study sessions or breaks. The building includes engineering labs, science facilities, and culinary arts classrooms, preparing students for future careers.

Environmental Leadership

Highland Springs High School achieved LEED® Gold certification through its sustainable features. The project reduced energy costs by approximately 55 percent using efficient HVAC, lighting, and plumbing systems, along with a solar PV installation. The building's design achieved over 35 percent reduction in indoor water use through low-flow fixtures and efficient commercial equipment.

The construction process recycled over 75 percent of construction and demolition waste. Building on a previously developed site preserved greenfield areas, while maintaining approximately 50 percent of the site as open space. The landscape requires no irrigation except on athletic fields, reducing water consumption.

Community Integration and Wellness

The building and site amenities serve as community resources, available for public use by Highland Springs residents. The design incorporates views to the outdoors throughout the building, superior acoustic performance, and high indoor air quality standards. The construction process included comprehensive air quality management and low-VOC materials.

Technical Excellence

The facility underwent complete commissioning, including fundamental, enhanced, monitoring-based, and envelope commissioning to ensure optimal performance. The building uses advanced metering systems for energy and water consumption, enabling precise monitoring of resource use. The design included infrastructure for photovoltaic systems, which were installed after construction completion.

Teaching Tool

The building supports environmental education through its features. The Science Honor Society uses the facility's sustainable elements in their curriculum. This approach helps students connect classroom concepts with real applications of environmental science and engineering principles.