Constructed in the 1990’s, this warehouse had been vacant for nearly a decade. Convinced the property could be converted into a school, it was purchased the Little Rock School District. As the first new middle school in over 50 years for the district, the WER Architects team embraced and implemented 21st century-learning environments – bringing life to this once abandoned building. The building volume provides a backdrop like no other school within the state. The ability to add second floor, community areas and functional transparency within a rigid box was a unique design experience.

The WER team designed ways to share and distribute natural light within the dark warehouse to anchor learning neighborhoods. Skylights were added to bring natural light into the depths of the building, hallways and interior classrooms. Care was given to ensure connectivity and celebrate spaces where students come together including a monumental stair for the main social gathering spot. Considered a luxury in public K-12 design, every classroom is 1,000sf and broken into traditional space and small group project centers.

The face of the former warehouse was transformed with a canopy designed to significantly mark the main public entry – inspired by nearby Pinnacle mountain, the school’s namesake.