Christopher High School

Site & Outdoor Areas

The campus features a centralized quad with lawn areas, planters, trees, shade umbrellas and structures, and ample seating. The upper edge of the quad transitions to an amphitheater seating area oriented toward the multi-purpose building. Covered exterior corridors connect classroom buildings and are protected by large canopy structures.

Two main campus entrances are located between the gymnasium and library, adjacent to parking lots and student drop-off zones. These lots include large solar panel structures and designated waiting areas. Asphalt surfaces are deteriorated, striping is faded, pedestrian pathways are lacking, wayfinding is unclear, and circulation patterns contribute to severe congestion along Cougar Court and Day Road East. Perimeter landscape areas surrounding classroom buildings also show significant decline.

Outdoor Athletics & Gymnasium

Athletic facilities occupy the east side of campus and include a gymnasium complex, aquatics center, tennis courts, football stadium with turf field and track, outdoor basketball courts, baseball fields, and an open grass field.

The football turf and track, now approximately 10 years old, are approaching the end of their functional lifespan. Grass fields, including the quad lawn, are uneven and poorly irrigated, resulting in patchy surfaces. Tennis courts exhibit cracking and surface failure, while basketball courts remain in fair condition. Field lighting is inadequate for evening events, and the perimeter fence along Day Road East is undersized, creating security challenges. Concession and restroom facilities consist of aging portable structures in deteriorated condition. The open field is in poor condition. Shading at the aquatics center is insufficient.

The gymnasium complex fronts the parking lot between Cougar Court and Day Road and houses a main gym, practice gym, wrestling gym, weight room, locker rooms, athletic classrooms, storage, and support spaces. The main gym includes full-size courts, protective wall padding, and acoustic fins at the high ceiling. However, interior finishes are outdated, equipment is nearing end-of-life, and locker rooms show significant wear, including damaged walls, dented lockers, and aging fixtures. While heavily used and central to campus life, the athletic and gym facilities require modernization and long-term maintenance investment.

Specialty / CTE Classrooms

CTE and specialty classrooms follow the curved perimeter of the campus and include the metal and wood shops, life skills classroom, computer labs, arts classrooms, and music rooms. The welding shop has been closed due to insufficient electrical capacity and inadequate ventilation, as the space was originally designed for light metalwork rather than full welding operations. The wood shop remains in use but shares power with adjacent areas, creating electrical strain. Digital design and theater technology programs operate in undersized, inflexible rooms, and storage shortages persist across all CTE areas, forcing the use of classrooms and former workshop spaces for general storage.
Audio-visual systems and power infrastructure are outdated and scheduled for wireless upgrades. A major programmatic need is the addition of a dedicated theater building, ideally seating 400–500 occupants and located near Cougar Court. Overall, the CTE and specialty facilities are integral to campus programming but require significant modernization, including electrical and ventilation upgrades, spatial reconfiguration, and new construction to adequately support current and future instructional needs.

Standard Classrooms

Standard classrooms are arranged in two primary zones: liberal arts classrooms facing Cougar Court, and math and science classrooms facing the open field. These buildings are connected by long interior corridors, wide stairways, and second-floor bridging corridors. Interiors feature neutral color palettes, durable flooring, suspended lighting, and large windows that provide generous natural light.

Classrooms remain functional and comfortable; however, finishes including paint, flooring, and ceiling tiles show visible wear after more than a decade of continuous use. Some spaces exhibit localized damage or staining. Technology infrastructure, including AV systems, power drops, and cord reels, is outdated, with plans underway to transition to wireless technology. Furniture, while serviceable, lacks flexibility needed for contemporary instructional models. Several wings have insufficient storage, leading to cluttered learning environments. Overall, classroom spaces would benefit from modernization focused on finishes, technology upgrades, storage solutions, and flexible furnishings.

Administration

The administration complex is located on the first floor along Day Road East and is symmetrically divided by an exterior corridor. The north wing includes reception, the nurse’s office, staff offices, conference rooms, a staff lounge, and storage. The south wing houses a large meeting room, counseling offices, conference spaces, and support rooms, with restrooms located in both areas.

While operational, the administrative spaces show signs of aging. Flooring, paint, and cabinetry are worn, and lighting is outdated compared to newer campus facilities. Storage is limited, and signage and wayfinding are faded or inconsistent. Improvements are needed to enhance efficiency, visibility, and overall user experience.

Cafeteria

The cafeteria faces the top of the quad, located near the drop-off area by Cougar Court and connected to the liberal arts classroom wing. The kitchen and service area is located towards the rear of the building, with additional support spaces programmed along the building perimeter. The cafeteria features high ceilings, clerestory windows, and vinyl quotes along featured walls. The interior opens to an outdoor terraced seating through foldable door panels.

Finishes are durable and easy to maintain, though flooring and paint show wear from heavy use. Kitchen equipment appears operational but aging, with some fixtures nearing the end of their service life. Lighting is adequate, but ventilation and acoustic control could be improved to enhance comfort.

Library

The library connects to the cafeteria via an interior corridor and contains a conference room, computer lab, textbook storage, restrooms, and an open study area. Two primary entrances face both the quad and the drop-off area and include ceiling-height glazing that brings natural light into the reception zone. The space features high ceilings with clerestory windows, a large circulation desk, fixed furnishings, book stacks, and rolling digital displays. Carpet flooring shows wear, particularly at transitions between different color fields, where seams are unraveling.

Finishes

Most interior finishes, including wall paint, flooring, and ceiling materials—show signs of age and require refurbishment. Exterior finishes remain in good condition. Campus-wide modernization of finishes, technology systems, storage, and shading will improve functionality, aesthetics, and long-term durability.