Built in 1971, James River Day School is an independent, non-sectarian, coeducational, kindergarten through eighth grade day school in Lynchburg, Virginia. When the need for expansion in both the upper and lower school arose, Architectural Partners provided design services for a new addition wing. The proposed design envisioned space for the growing curriculum in a cohesive manner with existing facilities.
Completed in August 2017, the two-story 6,6000 square foot addition adds four new classrooms. New classrooms include two science labs on the second floor with a shared teacher office space, and lab support as well as two English classrooms on the first floor. Also included in the design were new administrative offices, meeting and collaboration spaces, and spacious hallways. A centrally located elevator and interior stairwell allows for improved circulation and increased accessibility throughout the school.
A portion of the land occupied by the existing all-school playground was relocated to accommodate the expanded building program. This simultaneously highlighted an opportunity for the addition of new play structures and separate, larger play areas for the upper and lower school. The new and expanded playgrounds feature a new, full-size basketball court, play structures, a two-story hill-side slide, and a new exterior coliseum.