Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama
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Faced with an increasing student population, the Demopolis City School System decided their best option was to build a new high school facility.

The first step in the process was to evaluate their current situation and decide what their needs were in developing a program for the new school. The school system selected Sherlock, Smith & Adams to guide them through this process as well as master plan and design the new high school campus.

Working through the evaluation process gave SS&A and school officials valuable insight into the number of current and future students, the size requirements of the new facility, and the acreage needed to meet the requirements of the new building and surrounding athletic fields and support facilities. School officials determined that a 70-acre site should be large enough to encompass all current and future needs. Once the appropriate site was located, SS&A, working with school officials, teachers and the community, began to develop a master plan for the campus.

With historic heritage and future expansion in mind, the 750-student Demopolis High School was designed to efficiently integrate educational and recreational/athletic functions. Administrative offices, a media center and a kitchen form the building’s core. In an effort to enhance the learning environment, the educational wings were designed to utilize as much natural sunlight as possible. The activity center, connected to the main building by a canopied walkway, includes an 800-seat gymnasium, a 270-seat auditorium, a music room and physical education facilities. With the intent of integrating the new school into the surrounding community, the campus was designed to facilitate community activities without compromising building security requirements.