Burlington High School & Tech Center

Burlington School District

The City of Burlington, Vermont will soon have a new high school and technical center designed by the collaborative team of Freeman French Freeman, Colin Lindberg & Associates, and Drummey Rosane Anderson.

The four-story, 250,000 square-foot building will sit on the same gently sloping hillside site of the existing school, which will be demolished in early 2023. The compact four-story design allows existing roads and athletic fields to remain undisturbed.

The interior layout is based on 21st Century School design principles, which emphasize flexibility, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. At the heart of the school is a two-story student commons, which serves as a cafeteria, community gathering place, and lobby for both the 750-seat auditorium and oversized gymnasium. Smaller public areas are scattered around the building, allowing for break out spaces separate from academic classrooms. A large learning commons—the modern library—encourages both group projects and quiet study in a technology-rich environment. Decentralized faculty offices ensure adult presence throughout the school.

Nearly all the schools seventy-nine teaching areas have access to natural light and outdoor views, thanks in part to an enclosed outdoor courtyard in the east end of the building. High-efficiency mechanical systems provide excellent indoor air quality while saving energy and reducing costs. LEED certification is expected for this highly sustainable building, which will serve Burlington students for many generations to come.

Construction of the new school begins in Summer 2023. Progress updates can be found on the school district website.