The Waynesboro School Board was presented with an architect’s design for a new addition to Waynesboro High School as part of renovations of the 1930s building.
“Things are moving along at the high school very quickly,” said Waynesboro Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Cassell at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
Cassell, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ryan Barber and Waynesboro High Principal Bryan Stamm have multiple meetings each week with RRMM Architects of Richmond, and Cassell said they met with them again the day of the school board meeting.
Next Tuesday, Cassell and staff will present renovation and design plans to Waynesboro Planning Commission to obtain a conditional-use permit, which is necessary because the new addition on Waynesboro High will be setback closer to Main Street than the original footprint of the school.
“So we need city approval to do that,” Cassell said.
According to RRMM Principal Architect Dan Weigand, when standing in front of the current building, the far left end will be demolished as part of the second phase of renovations to the high school to make way for a new three-story classroom wing, 1,500-seat competition gymnasium and locker room.
“We’re not trying to match the existing building per se, but try to take some cues from it, a little more contemporary look,” Weigand said.
The portion of the addition that will reach out to Main Street will be a media center for students with the three-story classroom wing behind.
Waynesboro School Board Chair Amber Lipscomb asked if it were possible for some sort of barrier to be placed in front of the media center to prevent vehicles traveling on Main Street from damaging the building in the event of an accident. Weigand said details such as a guardrail in shrubbery around the media center will be added “to protect that from vehicular traffic.”
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Cassell said that from the design the elevation of the building is not clear but the new addition will be elevated five feet above Main Street.
“I like the design. It looks beautiful,” Lipscomb said.
Weigand said he and RRMM are “excited” about the project and Waynesboro School Board Vice Chair Nigel Stewart said he also likes the design.