The new Meridian High School, designed by Quinn Evans and Stantec, won the 2023 Design with Purpose award at the International Interior Design Association Mid-Atlantic Premiere Design Awards in May. This category is new this year to acknowledge impactful designs that benefit the communities they serve and the environment.  

Part of a larger redevelopment in the City of Falls Church, the Meridian High School project includes cooperation and integration with the adjacent 10-acre mixed-use private development. The state-of-the-art high school is LEED Gold certified and has a capacity of 1,500 students co-located with an existing middle school. The project addresses many of the community’s top priorities and showcases contemporary learning environments and sustainable strategies.

The school is jointly used as a community center; the public can access the outdoor facilities as well as indoor gymnasiums, the library, the auditorium, and some classrooms. Learning areas feature flexible floorplans that provide security, efficiency, and adaptability to support programs and educational needs as they evolve. Spaces for students and teachers are informed by the priorities of flexibility, visual transparency, and natural daylighting. The result is a lifelong learning environment that encourages both individual growth and community building.