Client: St. George’s Episcopal School
Scope: Renovation and New Construction
Status: 2026
Size: 9,000 sq.ft
Budget: $1,500,000
Collaborators: Synergy Consulting Engineers, Marais Consultants
Prioritizing Accessibility and Inclusivity to Support Student Learning
The historic Wooden Building presents several challenges in accommodating student learning and meeting current accessibility standards. Chief among these are limited access to classrooms, which are currently only accessible via stairs on the east side of the building and includes a lack of accessible restrooms.
To address these limitations, Studio West developed a comprehensive design strategy consisting of a series of phased projects to significantly enhance the building’s functionality, safety, and inclusivity. The first intervention introduces a new exterior stair and an accessible ramp at the southwest corner, facilitating compliant entry into the building. The second phase involves the reconstruction of existing interior stairs at both ends of the structure.
This effort will allow for accessible circulation between classrooms on the first floor without the need to navigate vertical changes in elevation. Importantly, this design has received approval from the State Historic Preservation Office, ensuring alignment with preservation standards while advancing accessibility goals.
A third project proposes a new addition at the south end of the building. This addition will house accessible restrooms and incorporate a wheelchair lift, providing full ADA access to both floors of the structure.
In conjunction with accessibility upgrades, the new south addition introduces dedicated learning spaces to better support Lower and Middle School students. This includes two resource rooms on the first floor, designed to accommodate intimate learning environments for four to six students, as well as a small group room located on the second floor, designed to support upwards of twelve students.
Across the building, the existing eight classrooms will undergo interior upgrades, including improved finishes, new shelving, and enhanced electrical lighting - designed to foster a more functional, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all students.
Wooden Building
St. George's Episcopal School