Col. Fred Cherry Middle Schoolr
Suffolk, Virginia
Square Footage
125,220 SF
Building Type
K-12 Education
Project Type
New Construction, Prototype Design
Team
Architect-led
Services Provided
Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Design, Construction Administration, Commissioning
Overview
Col. Fred Cherry Middle School was a new 125,000-square-foot educational facility developed for Suffolk Public Schools to serve a growing student population. The two-story school accommodated approximately 750 students and was organized into three grade-level academic houses connected by shared learning and collaboration spaces. Integrated mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life-safety systems supported energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and long-term operational performance.
Challenges
- Designing building systems to support a large middle school with diverse academic, athletic, and student gathering spaces.
- Coordinating infrastructure across multiple academic wings and shared commons areas.
- Delivering reliable, energy-efficient systems capable of supporting long-term school operations.
Goals
- Provide a modern learning environment organized into grade-level academic houses that supported collaboration and flexible instruction.
- Enhance comfort, safety, and energy performance through high-efficiency building systems.
- Support Suffolk Public Schools’ long-term facilities plan with durable, maintainable infrastructure.
Project Team
- Owner: Suffolk City Public Schools
- Architect: RRMM
- Structural: Speight Marshall Francis
- Civil:
- Contractor: Blueridge General, Inc.
Results
- Successfully delivered a modern middle school facility serving approximately 750 students in the Suffolk community.
- Supported collaborative learning through a grade-house layout with shared commons areas and outdoor courtyards.
- Provided efficient, reliable building infrastructure designed for long-term educational use.
