DC Infrastructure Academy at Spingarn High School

Recognizing the rising opportunities in the infrastructure workforce, the District of Columbia has partnered with private enterprises to develop career and technical education (CTE) focused on viable employment opportunities in energy, utilities, construction, and information technology. The DC Infrastructure Academy (DCIA) recruits and trains DC residents to fulfill local infrastructure needs and provide direct pathways to jobs with leading companies that benefit the local economy.

The Infrastructure Academy finds its new home in the 1950s-era Spingarn High School, a significant historic property in DC considered to be the District’s last segregated high school. The VMDO DC / BELL Architects team was chosen to lead the adaptive re-use of the abandoned school property, with the complete programming and design necessary to perform a partial renovation to serve as the new home of DCIA.

Stabilization of the entire historic building preserves it as a home for future civic programs, while renovations and additions support current DCIA classes with a plan for future growth. Flexible labs and classrooms are fitted out for key partners including PEPCO, WMATA, DC Water, Washington Gas, DC Solar Works, and more. It will support DC’s aspirational sustainability goals through the introduction geothermal HVAC and other high-performance materials and systems, along with a wider stormwater master plan to benefit the surrounding neighborhood.

The modernization will redefine the next chapter of Spingarn High School, continuing its original promise of providing education, enrichment, and resources for the community.