Renaissance Academy
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Overview
Renaissance Academy is a 290,000-square-foot alternative education facility developed for Virginia Beach City Public Schools to bring multiple specialized programs together within a single campus serving students in grades 6–12. Designed around a two-story, H-shaped configuration, the facility provides individual program areas connected by shared core spaces while accommodating flexible learning environments, career and technical education, and the distinct operational and security needs of its diverse student population. Thompson Consulting Engineers provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design and Construction Administration services for the project, integrating high-performance building systems with sustainable features that contribute to the facility’s LEED Gold certification. Real-time energy and water monitoring, exposed building systems, and other sustainability features allow the building itself to serve as a teaching tool while supporting energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and long-term operational performance.
Challenges
- Designing building systems to support multiple educational programs with distinct operational and security requirements within a single facility.
- Coordinating MEP infrastructure for specialized instructional spaces, including career and technical education laboratories, while maintaining flexibility for future program needs.
- Integrating sustainable building systems that enhanced building performance while serving as educational tools for students.
Goals
- Provide a safe, modern learning environment that supported a diverse range of academic, career, and alternative education programs.
- Improve energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and long-term operational performance through high-performance building systems.
- Create a sustainable facility that promoted environmental stewardship while supporting Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ educational mission.
Project Team
- Owner: Virginia Beach City Public Schools
- Architect: RRMM Architects
- Structural Engineer: TEXT
- Civil Engineer: TEXT
- Contractor: W.M. Jordan
Results
- Successfully delivered a modern educational facility that consolidated multiple alternative education programs into one cohesive campus.
- Enhanced the learning environment through integrated, high-performance building systems and specialized instructional spaces.
- Provided efficient, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure designed to support long-term educational operations, earning LEED Gold certification.
