As part of a long-term master planning initiative, the new Upper School addition at Virginia Academy was envisioned to support both immediate academic needs and the campus’s future growth. Situated on the school’s 40+ acre campus, the three-story academic building establishes a dedicated environment for upper school students—resolving long-standing space constraints caused by shared use among the church, lower school (K-5th), and upper school (6th-12th), and allowing each program to thrive independently.

The 113’ by 230’ building footprint was carefully planned to balance functionality, adaptability, and long-term resilience. The academic program includes eight 940-square-foot classrooms, three 1,400-square-foot science and art labs designed for hands-on learning, and a network of distributed social zones. A central learning stair, work lounges, and flexible lunch stations encourage informal interaction, collaboration, and community-building throughout the day, reinforcing learning beyond the classroom.

A defining feature of the project is its integrated gymnasium and event space, designed as both an academic extension and a shared community asset. The building incorporates two distinct entrances—one serving daily student and faculty use, and another supporting weekday and weekend events. The 96’ x 138’ gymnasium features a 32-foot clear height and seating for 979 spectators, with collapsible bleachers, layered court striping, repositionable goal posts, advanced audiovisual systems, and a custom LED scoreboard. This high degree of flexibility allows the space to seamlessly transition between athletics, assemblies, graduations, and community gatherings—a role it has actively fulfilled since opening.

Architecturally, the project is rooted in a broader site vision of “reverberation,” with the concept of eternal resonance reflecting the church’s mission to spread light and purpose throughout the community. Linear repetition and rhythmic façade elements echo sound and light waves, symbolizing intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth while maintaining continuity with the existing campus architecture. A carefully detailed curtainwall system delivers a modern façade that echoes the classical trinity arch elements found on the adjacent church structure.

Structurally, long-span steel girders support the gymnasium and stacked classrooms above without compromising openness or aesthetics. Detailed acoustic studies informed the design to limit sound transmission between the gym and classrooms, ensuring a focused learning environment.

Together, the Upper School addition represents a purposeful investment in Virginia Academy’s future—honoring its mission, strengthening community connections, and preparing students to grow, lead, and shape what comes next.

Design: INTEC Group, Inc.
Contractor: PWC Companies
Photography: Chris Spielmann