THEARC Phase IV, the new home for the Washington School for Girls (WSG), delivered in early September – two months ahead of schedule and on budget.
One of the original 14 nonprofit partners at THEARC, WSG is a tuition-free school that primarily serves girls living in DC’s Wards 7 & 8. Currently, the students are split between two campuses, with middle schoolers attending classes at THEARC and third through fifth graders attending at the View campus on Morris Road SE.
WSG will welcome all 120 students at THEARC in January.
The new building’s size and design allow for the instruction and advancement of up to 150 students to enroll in the future.
WC Smith provided pro-bono development services for Phase IV; WCS Construction led the construction efforts. District Electric Services provided the electrical work for the building. And WCS Mortgage provided pro-bono assistance with the New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) financing and closing.
The three-story Phase IV is located between THEARC’s east and west buildings, with a terrace at the back that overlooks Oxon Creek and THEARC Farm. Along with 14 bright and spacious classrooms, the campus includes a multipurpose space serving as a cafeteria and auditorium, an expansive library/media lab, a science lab, a makerspace/STEM lab, and a flexible art/music/dance area.
The building offers a connection to the natural environment with access to an outdoor learning space and tying the curriculum to the THEARC Farm. The building was designed to meet LEED Silver certification and features solar panels and a green roof.
