Discovery High School library

An Award-Winning Transformation

The award-winning Discovery High School project consisted of taking an old Bridgestone tire warehouse and significantly altering it into a new high school for Gwinnett County Schools. The 664,262 SF school serves around 3,000 students and is one of the largest high schools in the U.S.

Discovery theater

Adaptive Re-Use and Natural Challenges

The transformation of an old warehouse into a modern structure was extensive; requiring demolition of the existing office spaces, exterior walls, loading docks, and about a third of the structure itself. Only portions of the steel frame and roof structure would remain, as almost all of the existing slabs were removed to allow for plumbing, electrical or new footing. Rock was found right at subgrade beneath the existing warehouses slab. The extent of rock would prove to be extensive and would require unorthodox means to meet the project schedule.

Discovery High School interior

This Solution Was a Blast!

More than a lineal mile of trenches would have to be blasted inside the building to make way for underground utilities. Utilizing a workforce of around 400 people daily, of all different trades, we divided the main building into 16 individual sequences. The use of technology, combined with an excellent team, allowed for all obstacles to be overcome.

They completed the project ahead of schedule, despite some major unforeseen conditions. Carroll Daniel’s team went above and beyond to bring this project to life on time and within budget.
Danny Jardine
Former Chief Operations Officer, Gwinnett County Public Schools

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