Design firm outlines community‑centered approach for Prince William’s 14th high school

A design team working with Prince William County Public Schools presented stakeholder engagement findings for the district’s planned 14th high school, saying community and student input will shape a flexible, sustainability‑minded campus intended to support applied learning and workforce pathways.

Vernon Bach, the division’s chief operating officer, introduced Tim Shimp of the DLR Group, the design partner retained to guide programming and site work for the new high school. DLR described a multi‑stage engagement process that included workshops with school board members, staff, teachers, parents and students. The consultants summarized six central themes that emerged from the input: a sense of belonging and community, applied and project‑based learning, safety and well‑being (physical and emotional), environmental quality including air and acoustics, sustainability goals such as LEED or net‑zero planning, and community access to school facilities.

DLR said student‑centered methods such as a "photo voice" workshop helped reveal how students use spaces daily and what fosters engagement and belonging. The firm reported consistent requests for flexible furniture and adaptable learning spaces to support small‑group work, maker‑style hands‑on labs, and larger performance or assembly uses. The presentation also described how career and technical education (CTE) pathways — including biomedical science, engineering and computer science — were prioritized in stakeholder discussions, and how the design will seek to enable partnerships with local businesses and post‑secondary institutions.

Board members asked questions about how the project will measure the impact of space on learning. DLR said it plans pre‑ and post‑occupancy evaluation and noted participation in broader research collaborations that examine facilities’ effects on student engagement and outcomes. The designers provided a project schedule and site plan overview; the presentation closed with an invitation to continue stakeholder meetings during schematic design.

Ending

Board members praised the extensive engagement and asked staff and designers to continue exploring how design choices increase student engagement and support CTE and community access. The board will receive future design updates as the project advances through schematic design and site planning.