Millennials are starting families in urban areas faster than schools can accommodate, leading to overcrowding issues. As office vacancy rates rise, some school systems are turning to adaptive reuse of vacant commercial buildings as a sustainable and cost-effective solution. The presentation highlights two examples where former office buildings were converted to schools in Atlanta and Fairfax County, Virginia, providing needed additional space for growing student populations in a vertical format similar to traditional office structures.
8. of public schools in the U.S. have
portable (temporary) buildings,
which are often used to combat
overcrowding.
33%
Source: The Institute of Education Sciences
36. Source: School Construction News
The architects at Cooper Carry believe
that the new North Atlanta High School
is an example of the beginning of the
future in adaptive reuse projects for
public education buildings.
— Audrey Arthur
School Construction News
46. Source: The Washington Post
“As we continue to be a fast-growing school
system and property becomes harder to come
by, we will have to think differently about
school design. Vertical buildings will be part of
our plan throughout the county.”
— Karen Garza
Superintendent, Fairfax County Public Schools
47. With Cooper Carry’s help,
Fairfax County Public Schools
turned a vacant Class B
office building into an A+
school.
49. We’re happy to talk through
solutions for your
school or office.
50. Give us a call.
Lauren Perry Ford, AIA, LEED AP
703-519-6152
Jerry Cooper, FAIA, LEED AP
404-240-9501
Bob Just, AIA, LEED AP
678-539-4650
www.coopercarry.com
51. We want to hear from you!
Please like, share,
and comment on this
presentation.
52. Pew Research Center | http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/03/07/millennials-in-
adulthood/
Millennial Marketing | http://www.millennialmarketing.com/2013/07/new-research-the-
millennial-generation-becomes-parents/
Realtor.org | http://www.realtor.org/articles/how-millennials-move-the-car-less-trends
The Institute of Education Sciences | http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=94
Reuters | http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/05/property-usa-office-
idUSL3N0UK37W20150105
Jones Lang LaSalle | http://www.us.jll.com/united-states/en-us/Research/United-States-
Office-Statistics-Q4-2014-JLL.pdf?e617f4b8-1f21-4418-83ac-fe372972fcbc
School Construction News | http://www.schoolconstructionnews.com/articles/2013/09/5/
massive-adaptive-reuse-project-transforms-atlanta-schools
The Washington Post | http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/
some-fairfax-county-students-head-to-class-in-a-baileys-crossroads-office-
building/2014/09/02/9e939086-32b2-11e4-9e92-0899b306bbea_story.html
Data Sources