John Overton High School Renovation
The Challenge
John Overton High School in Nashville, Tennessee, was originally constructed in 1957. It’s undergone multiple additions over the past 60 years. This project, which began in August 2015, marked the first significant renovation that met student, staff, and community needs — adding classrooms, updating old mechanical systems, and improving vehicle circulation at the school.
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Client
Metro Nashville Public Schools
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Location
Nashville, Tennessee
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Size
242,407 square feet
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Distinguishing Features
- 25 new classrooms
- New internal courtyards and outdoor learning spaces
- Updated cafeteria and library
The Design Solution
The project was a phased, multi-year renovation of an occupied 2,000-student school. TMP analyzed the campus to look at space needs and determine the best value for the owner. Twenty-five classrooms were added in a single new addition.
The goal was to reduce the amount of new construction but increase functional space. We relocated the cafeteria and library and created three large courtyard spaces to achieve the school’s master plan of creating a more cohesive campus.
The design also helped reduce hallway traffic and potential distractions in learning zones and created a “backdoor” for bus drop-off and pickup, separate from car traffic. Loading dock, dumpster, and service areas were relocated to the rear of the campus to free up space for internal courtyards and outdoor learning spaces.
Project Images
The Design Impact
The thoughtful and strategic renovation met the client’s goals while creating an updated, efficient, and innovative learning environment for students and staff alike.
