On Friday, March 5, 2021, AIA Virginia and the AIA Northern Virginia Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) convened a panel discussion about the new Heights Building, an Arlington Public School (APS) facility in Northern Virginia. Speakers from Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Leo A Daly, APS, Silman, and Gilbane shared insights into the design and construction of this structural masterpiece.

Inspired by the values and educational mission of APS, the Heights Building serves as a model example for innovative solutions to school design. Green terraces at each floor become an extension of the classrooms, creating an indoor-outdoor learning landscape for both students and teachers — an educational oasis rather than a traditional school setting, addressing the academic needs of the school’s program while forming a vertical community within its dense urban context.

About the Panel

Tony-Saba Shiber AIA | Senior Architect, Designer at Bjarke Ingels Group
Daniel Sundlin | Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group
Aran Coakley, AIA | Project Manager, Bjarke Ingels Group
Andrew Graham, AIA | Senior Associate, Senior Architect, Leo A Daly
Dr. Casey Robinson | Principal, Arlington Public Schools
Jason Myers, PE, SE, LEED AP BD+C | Associate, Silman
Tyler Swartzwelder, DBIA, LEED AP | Senior Project Executive, Gilbane
Jenine Kotob, AIA | Chair, AIA Northern Virginia CAE

Watch a recording of that discussion below.

Learn more about this innovative learning facility visit the AIA Northern Virginia Virtual Tour site.