Dorothy Hamm Stratford Middle School - Arlington, VA

The expansion of this historic school building celebrates its importance in the history of the African American civil rights movement. As the first public school in Virginia to desegregate after the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the school is a testament to equity and innovation in education. The design by Quin Evans Architects honors this legacy with interpretive elements and furthers it by supporting new ways of teaching and learning. The project received the Platinum Design Award in the Renovations/Expansions category in the Annual 2021 Virginia School Boards Association’s (VSBA)Exhibition of School Architecture. Cladding Corp provided Swisspearl fiber cement panels for the expansion of this historic school building with the aim to preserve the historic façade. Swisspearl facades can be easily installed to retrofit or reclad existing structures as well as be effortlessly removed when it is time for a new design direction. And with a lifespan of over 40 years, Swisspearl improves both the ecological and economical outcomes of every building envelope.