The new Fuquay-Varina Middle School will accommodate 1,450 students and help meet the educational needs of the surrounding, rapidly growing town. The design centers on creating an inviting, community-based learning environment that will strengthen students’ social and academic experiences. A clear entry sequence brings students and visitors into an open, light-filled two-story lobby, which offers wayfinding to classroom wings and administrative offices. The media center is directly adjacent to the lobby and is at the heart of the school, offering access and support to students both during school and after hours.

Size

242,546 SF

Completion

Anticipated 2024

Cost

$70,824,522

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Master Planning

The main lobby at Fuquay-Varina Middle School in Fuquay-Varina, NC: Architect: Clark Nexsen
Collaboration space at Fuquay-Varina Middle School in Fuquay-Varina, NC: Architect: Clark Nexsen

The classroom wings are designed to foster smaller communities within the larger school. These areas include a variety of break-out and collaboration spaces for grade-level teams to work together and build strong connections. Elective classrooms are also located in the classroom wings. The facility includes main and auxiliary gymnasiums and athletic fields, which support physical education classes and school sports teams.

Fuquay-Varina Middle School in Fuquay-Varina, NC; Architect: Clark Nexsen

The design emphasizes the connection between indoor and outdoor environments, integrating outdoor classrooms and an amphitheater. These spaces offer students and teachers an alternative setting for learning and the opportunity to support their mental health through time spent outside.