David T. Howard Middle School

The Historic David T. Howard School, constructed in the mid-1920s, saw many Atlanta legends roam its hallways. After more than four decades of neglect, Atlanta Public Schools selected Lord Aeck Sargent in collaboration with Stevens & Wilkinson to renovate and re-design the school as a part of the Grady Cluster School District.

The school is located on a 7.4-acre urban block within the Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood about a half mile east of Downtown Atlanta. The project included the historic rehabilitation of the existing building, multiple additions, a large outdoor courtyard, and site improvements.

The site design features outdoor learning, outdoor recreation, a shade garden, signature pedestrian spaces, and green infrastructure to help filter surface runoff. The design also activates the urban setting through connections to both the BeltLine Eastside Trail and the Freedom Park Trail. The most significant site intervention includes the creation of a new east-west “street” through the block. This new connection allows separation of buses/queuing from parent/visitor dropoff (accommodated along Dobbs) while enhancing overall connectivity in the neighborhood.

Practice Areas