Fayette County Public Schools | Lexington, KY
This project delivered a new, approximately 350,000 square foot Tates Creek High School designed for 1,850 students, built with geothermal heating and cooling, enhanced envelope commissioning, and an ICC 500-compliant tornado shelter. Once open, its energy performance surpassed that of Frederick Douglass High School, the firm’s previous record holder, placing Tates Creek among the most energy efficient high schools in the country.

The new building rose on the same site as the school it replaced, within about 20 feet in one spot, while classes continued in the existing building every day throughout construction. As construction wrapped up, the district demolished the old school over the summer, paved new parking on its footprint, and opened the brand new Tates Creek High School for the first day of classes in August, with no interruption to instruction for students or staff.

The building’s planning reinforces a career-academy model, organizing students into small learning communities with dedicated academy zones and support teams. The program includes academies in Business, Entrepreneurship & Education; Design & Engineering; IB & Information Technology; and Medical & Emergency Services, along with a dedicated Freshman Academy to support the transition into high school. Community-support components, including a Medical Clinic and a Life Skills Center, extend the building’s role in serving students beyond academics.

Local news station WKYT featured a story about Tates Creek High School’s storm shelter (click here to watch). For a video from the Lexington Herald-Leader of the new Baseball-Softball Complex, click here.