HENDERSON WARD STEWART SCHOOL
In 2007, the citizens of Starkville passed a $26 Million Bond Issue to support improvements in the Starkville School District. The bond issue provided funding for facility improvements which would allow five campuses to be consolidated to four in order to reduce the number of campus transitions required for the students. A series of community charrettes were held on each campus with the objective to identify the critical design objectives.
The school buildings at the Henderson Ward Stewart Complex were constructed as Equalization Schools in the late 1950's and are important landmarks in the African American community. The growing school population required extensive remodeling and additions to this community institution since some of the existing structures no longer adequately met the expectations of the community for educational facilities nearly 60 years later. The Henderson Building, which is the public visual interface of the complex, was completely renovated on the interior and exterior.
The original Ward and Stewart Buildings were separate from Henderson and there was the desire to create a central entry point to campus for both bus and carpool traffic, while additionally providing interconnection between these existing buildings. The campus, prior to renovation, was not secure and frequently had unauthorized visitors and there was a need to formalize the boundaries of the campus. Additional classroom buildings were constructed, as well as central art and music classrooms and a Central Office, to connect the original buildings and create a true singular campus.
With the additional classrooms, it was possible to demolish a metal building, a former maintenance building which had been pressed into service as classrooms, which enhanced the carpool circulation on site by allowing for more room for traffic queue.
SIZE: 37,500 square foot of New Addition
22,000 square foot of Renovation
DATE OF COMPLETION: December 2010
PRINCIPAL: W. Briar Jones
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: West Brothers Construction
