Designed in partnership with Fitzgerald Collaborative, the new Gadsden PreK-8 School will feature innovative classrooms equipped with the latest technology, STEM educational spaces, well-equipped libraries, and much more. With many dated schools in the Gadsden County School District that were no longer feasible to repair, this new building will replace four county schools with aging structures. DAG Architects is providing design, construction documentation, and construction administration for a new combined elementary and middle school, accommodating approximately 1,650 students across 250,000 GSF.

The design is guided by the concept of intersecting connections, fostering community, safety, and creative thinking. This approach highlights the interplay between community building and the neural connections formed through learning. A warm, natural color palette with bright accents will be used to enhance positivity and focus, while easing student anxiety. Architectural forms serve as wayfinding elements, creating fluid learning nodes. Zoning and circulation unite elementary and middle school experiences, encouraging community and maintaining safety through clear sightlines.