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Architect outlines fourth high school plans; board debates field restrooms, turf and colors
Summary
Architect Dirk Jeffrey and staff updated the board on schematic designs for the proposed fourth high school — a core capacity of 1,250 with expansion to 1,600 — and discussed site access, stadium adjacency, field restrooms/utilities, turf fields and a proposed purple/silver color scheme; staff set Aug. 22 design‑development and September site‑plan milestones.
VLK principal architect Dirk Jeffrey presented schematic designs for Frederick County’s proposed fourth high school at the July 23 work session, describing a compact three‑story classroom wing and a schedule that would put earthwork on site about a year from now and a school opening in fall 2029.
Jeffrey said the core scope is for 1,250 students with an option to expand to 1,600; the 12 additional classrooms for that expansion were estimated at schematic design to cost about $3,800,000 as a bid alternate. "The scope of work remains as we believe it always has been with specific to a core capacity of 1,250 students with expansion to 1,600 students," Jeffrey told the board, adding that the design team was roughly two‑thirds of the way through design development.
Site circulation, traffic and utilities were a major focus in follow‑up questions. Jeffrey described the main entrance as an extension of Justice Drive with separate staff/parking and parent drop‑off/bus loops and said a county TRC asked staff to reconsider an oblique road angle. Staff said they are coordinating traffic impact analyses with VDOT and county planning; potential solutions include reorientation of driveway approaches and, if required, intersection or lighting changes subject to VDOT review.
Board members also asked about restrooms for fields and tennis courts. Chair and members agreed the distance from new fields to existing facilities is a community concern; Dr. Hummer said porta‑potties would be used in the short term and staff can price the cost to run utilities or build a permanent facility later. "We would not have students use the restroom in the forest. We would put up porta potties out there," Dr. Hummer said, calling a utilities pricing study "an easy study" and offering to bring numbers back for a downtown request if the board wants to pursue it.
Athletics and revenue: board members discussed synthetic turf and an eight‑lane track as both student amenities and potential revenue sources through rentals. Staff said finance‑committee modeling will investigate breakeven timelines and maintenance savings; one board member suggested turf could pay back its cost within several years once lost use is reduced and rental revenue is added.
Color scheme debate: staff presented a purple, silver and black palette for interior accents and athletic uniforms and asked the board to weigh in. Several members asked to see additional options and variants with purple as a smaller accent rather than the dominant color; staff said final mascot and school name will involve community input and that color approvals would proceed through the Buildings & Grounds committee and then full board review.
Next procedural steps: staff said the design development submission is due Aug. 22 and the site plan submission is expected in September; Buildings & Grounds will review color and finish options at the Aug. 11 meeting and the board can request additional work sessions if desired.
