Honoring Presidents’ Day with a Look Inside George Washington High School.

In honor of Presidents’ Day, we’re spotlighting George Washington High School in Danville, Virginia, named after our country’s first president.

Originally named Danville High School, Superintendent G.L.H. Johnson recommended changing the name to George Washington High School (GWHS). It was the first high school in the South and the second in the country to honor the Founding Father as its namesake.

Built in 1955, the 70-year-old building needed a significant modernization to update the educational spaces to align with modern day standards. RRMM Architects and English Construction were hired as a PPEA design-build team to design and construct the school’s first full renovation and addition. The most complex part of the entire project was that the renovations and additions took place while the high school was occupied. This required a delicate and precise execution between the design team and the builder. The $88 million project was completed in time for the 2025-2026 school year.

GWHS is composed of multiple, separate buildings that include the main building, a career & technical education building, and a JROTC building. Renovations to the academic portion of the main building included classroom modernizations which updated furniture, finishes, and technology. Science labs were fully upgraded and the cafeteria was redesigned to increase seating. A full HVAC equipment replacement was completed. The main entrance was modified to relocate central administration, as well as create a security vestibule as an added safeguard.

Career & Technical Education

As a high school located in Danville, a major hub for advanced manufacturing and industrial activity, vocational training is naturally a major focus of the curriculum. To effectively prepare the next generation of the workforce, our design supported the development of the career & technical education center into a flagship program.

RRMM had previously designed the transformation of other CTE programs at George Washington High School. This includes the creation of their precision machining shop in 2017, which was the first step to the overall renovation of the high school. We also designed their IT academy in 2019. Our design team was able to finish George Washington High School’s CTE transformation by upgrading the spaces for existing programs, while working with Danville Public Schools to add new programs.

The cosmetology program enjoys a completely refreshed salon space. Nursing and dental labs were upgraded to elevate hands-on training. The culinary arts program features a state-of-the-art learning kitchen and a public-serving café called Cherry Tree Café. This café is shared with the hospitality program and gives students in both pathways the opportunity to practice real-world restaurant skills.

Other programs include engineering, mechatronics, and agriscience. An aviation program, which is unique for high school CTE, was also added to the curriculum. It includes a real-time flight simulator. Several local partners were involved in considering the programs to include.

Athletics

GWHS has an impressive athletic legacy. They have won numerous state championships and their student athletes have gone on to play at collegiate and professional levels. As an homage to this athletic excellence, a hall of fame area was created. Shadow boxes feature athlete’s jerseys, pictures, and brief descriptions of their careers and multiple trophy cases highlight decades of team championships.

The existing gymnasium was renovated to create a new practice gym. The southern portion of the existing gym was transformed into a two-story atrium that features the hall of fame area and connects the main part of the building to the new gymnasium addition. This new 2,500-seat gymnasium created an elite level athletic area, which will serve as a competition facility for the region.

Other athletic improvements included the construction of a new field house and team room, as well as the renovation of the existing field house into the visitors’ locker rooms. The baseball complex was refurbished and a weight room was created.

The team also designed an eight-lane competition indoor swimming facility that has not yet been constructed. It is awaiting approval and funding to move forward.

The Arts

The JROTC building, which is located next to the CTE building, had spaces that were underutilized. Our team upgraded the space entirely and converted unused rooms into an art studio and dance studio to support the exploratory programs. A beautifully renovated auditorium provides a space for the arts to thrive.

RRMM & Danville Public Schools

RRMM has been involved with George Washington High School for years. A decade ago, our architects studied how to advance the project further and renovate and expand the entire campus.

Danville Public Schools has made a profound impact on their community by investing in their students and empowering change through reimagining what their schools can and should be. Their vision and goals embrace a bold, uncompromising pursuit of something greater and higher for their students. RRMM considers it a pleasure and privilege to be a part of their story.