Sustainability is considered throughout the project, minimizing new construction while leveraging existing building stock and implementing energy-efficient strategies. The design combines old and new, with a contemporary glass link mediating between the solidity of the historic school and church buildings which date back to 1911 and 1952, respectively. This intervention is open and lightweight, with high-performance floor-to-ceiling glass, thermally broken curtainwall framing systems, and internally-lit skylights filling the space with natural light.

Atop, a green roof reduces groundwater runoff, improves building thermal insulation, lessens the urban heat island, and offers enjoyable glimpses of green from above and below. The former church now serves as a flexible multipurpose space. Under the soaring vaulted ceiling, students exercise and compete in their new gymnasium, on a regulation-sized basketball court, volleyball court, and climbing wall. When the gym is not in use, a new stage and art room-turned-green room give scholars a facility to host theatrical, music, and dance performances.

The north half of the building, separated by a rolling curtain, houses a cafeteria that will serve over 600 healthy breakfasts and lunches each day, prepared in the commercial kitchen. After decades of disinvestment, this underutilized city block begins a bright new future as a beacon of education and an anchor for its surrounding community.