Wake County officials preview schematic designs, funding gap for Athens Drive High School renovation
Loading...
Summary
District planners presented schematic designs that would add classrooms, a secure main entry and substantial interior renovations at Athens Drive High School; architects say the project needs about $10 million more than currently budgeted and will be built in multiple phases to keep students on site.
Wake County Public School System planners and Moseley Architects presented schematic designs for a partial renovation and additions at Athens Drive High School and said the project will require phased work and additional funding to proceed.
Designers displayed a two‑story classroom addition with about 22 classrooms, a new secure main entry and an alternate proposal for a new main gym and lobby. Architects said major renovation work would target administration, student services, auditorium support, arts spaces and the lower‑level athletic and locker rooms. The plan keeps students on site through roughly five construction phases beginning with an enabling phase in fall 2026 and completing in fall 2029, with much of the work scheduled for summers and school holidays.
Project advocates said the site—just under 50 acres—allows multiple access points but requires traffic coordination with the N.C. Department of Transportation because of existing vertical and horizontal curvature near parent and bus driveways. Architects noted the district’s existing modular classrooms would be removed and students relocated into the new classroom wing.
Designers proposed a distinct, secure vestibule at the new main entry so visitors can be screened before entering, and a classroom wing that highlights magnet and CTE spaces (medical sciences, maker spaces and CTE lab areas) connected to a new courtyard. An alternate main‑gym and lobby addition was shown as a bid alternate that will be pursued only if budget allows; if it is not funded the existing gym would remain and certain support spaces would be repurposed to provide additional arts and performance support.
District staff said the project is currently short about $10,000,000 to reach a budget that would allow the full scope shown; that shortfall was identified during the presentation and discussed by committee members. Architects and district staff said they would continue to pursue options, including exploring joint‑use opportunities with the City of Raleigh and other nearby community facilities, and would refine phasing and scope depending on available funds.
Board members and presenters discussed impacts to the public library located at Athens (Wake County public library hours and construction coordination were raised). District staff said they are coordinating with Wake County Public Libraries and expect to avoid closing the public library but acknowledged there will be times when construction will require adjustments and phased access for the library’s public hours.
The presentation also showed the design team’s visioning work with students, staff and parents, which emphasized more natural light, improved acoustics between music spaces, removal of mobile classrooms and improved campus security. Architects said the design team intends to make the building “solar ready” by designing roof structure to accept photovoltaic panels in future alternates.
No formal board action on the Athens Drive schematic was recorded in the transcript; staff said they will continue design work, pursue funding options and return with additional details as funding and phasing are refined.
Sources: Presentation by Wake County Public School System facilities staff and Moseley Architects; Q&A with board members.
