MIR
The Heights Secondary School, Parking Garage and Multi-Purpose Field
The Heights reimagines how a dense urban campus can support education, athletics, and community use, maximizing every square foot to serve Arlington’s growing student population.
Arlington, Virginia
Architect: Phase 1: Leo A Daly & Bjarke Ingles Group Phase 2: VMDO DC Architects, PLLC
Building Size: 184,677 sf
Project Cost: $89 million
Certifications: LEED Gold
Services: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plumbing Design, Energy Consulting
Designed to serve approximately 775 students, including a specialized program for students with disabilities, The Heights responds to the challenges of a highly constrained site through innovative planning and design. Five levels of classrooms are organized around a central core, creating a series of rooftop terraces that provide outdoor learning opportunities while preserving valuable open space. Shared amenities, including a 400-seat auditorium, gymnasium, library, cafeteria, and collaborative gathering areas, foster connection and engagement throughout the campus.
A second phase expanded the campus with a multi-level parking structure topped by a lighted synthetic turf field, creating additional recreation space while improving accessibility, circulation, parking, bicycle facilities, and stormwater management. Together, the two phases deliver a flexible, high-performance educational environment that supports academics, athletics, and community activities while advancing Arlington Public Schools' sustainability goals.