Herndon High School Will Have ‘More Outdoor Classrooms Than Indoor’ During Construction

Students who attend Herndon High School will be seeing some big changes in the fall — including more outdoor classrooms and fewer parking spaces.

Construction to expand the school is scheduled to begin during the late fall or early winter. The first phase — which will add an additional wing to the rear of the building and an addition to the front of the building where the new library, main office, and administrative and counseling offices will be situated — is expected to take about two years.

According to information distributed by the school earlier this week, they are already preparing for that first phase of construction, including by adding 46 new duplex and quad trailers that will be used to house displaced classrooms. There were already 27 trailers on campus to accommodate overall student growth, meaning the total number of trailers next school year will represent “more outdoor classrooms than indoor ones.” An outdoor restroom facility is also being brought in.

“Though construction will not actually be in full swing until December or January, staff will be packing up for the big move at the end of this school year. Our goal is to minimize disruptions throughout the next school year, so students will start the school year in the assigned trailers,” the school says in the statement. “While we cannot promise some immediate room changes will not happen occasionally throughout the renovation, we are working to reduce the impact of these changes as much as we can.”

The parking situation at the school will also be seriously impacted by the construction work, the school says. The number of available parking spaces for students will be slashed by three-quarters, from 377 to 90. A lottery system will accommodate student parking requests, with applications available beginning next week.

“Seniors will be chosen first based on parking availability on the school campus before this school year ends,” the statement reads. “In August, a second lottery will take place based on additional spaces acquired through our [community partnerships]. Juniors will be selected once all seniors have a space.”

Students are also reminded in the statement that parking on neighborhood streets is off-limits unless special arrangements have been made by the school. In addition, the school says, carpooling will be “strongly recommended” for athletic events, concerts and other major school activities.

The full renovation of the school, which is to include 138,558 square feet of additions and modifications that will expand the school to 431,000 square feet with a capacity for 2,500 students, will include:

• Phase 1: Add an additional wing to the rear of the building. Add an addition to the front of the building where the new library, main office, and administrative and counseling offices will be situated.
• Phase 2: Renovate locker rooms, art rooms and Gourmet Foods room. Expand the main gym and renovate the auxiliary gym.
• Phase 3: Create new wrestling/gymnastics room, renovate music rooms and the auditorium. Update baseball and softball structures.
• Phase 4: Modify the cafeteria, creating a “food court” design, renovate the stadium press box and complete tennis courts.

The addition was approved as part of the Fairfax County Public Schools Fiscal Year 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Program.

Rendering via Fairfax County Public Schools