HD Woodson High School

Washington D.C., District of Columbia
Team member of SHW Group
235,000 SF: budget $95,000,000
LEED Gold and Project of Distinction Winner 2013 Education Design Showcase

As the forerunner to the transformation of the District of Columbia’s Public School program, the new H.D. Woodson STEM High School was designed to meet the instructional vision of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) requirements.  The facility was part of the $1.8 billion dollar effort to modernize the city school system.  Mahbuba Khan was part of the architectural team working to create the existing and demolition plans and was also involved in the schematic design and design development of the project.

The team worked with the DC Public School staff to innovate and implement alternative timelines for delivery; establish sustainable design criteria; and facilitate community dialog.  The new HD Woodson High School is bathed in natural light using large windows and a central atrium.  The project required LEED Gold status through its incorporation of vegetated roofs, rainwater collection, gray water systems, daylighting strategies, and bio-retention filters.  In addition, it won the Project of Distinction Winner 2013 Education Design Showcase awarded in 2014.