Designers Construct a New Vision, Path Forward for Wake County Public Schools

Wake County Public School System ushers in a new era of design, led by three black-owned architecture firms

By Sarah Magargee

In 2020, Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) leaders in North Carolina made the bold decision to chart a new vision that would emphasize innovation in new schools’ design. Shane Webster, Senior Facility Planner for WCPSS, explained that for years the district had worked with the same designers for all new building and renovation projects. “WCPSS and the project planning team wanted to bring in new talent with a fresh perspective,” Webster said. “When the planners have been inside the box for so long, it is hard to think of things differently.”

The WCPSS building program is massive. Since 2014, the district has consistently built or renovated four to six schools a year. In 2020 the school system sent out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for five new schools that heavily weighted design innovation, while adhering to public education’s fixed budgets. WCPSS also assembled a selection committee of architects and designers, a shift from the traditional committees that had designers on the periphery.

The open RFQ and design-focused selection committee helped attract new firms that presented qualifications not before seen in WCPSS building projects. Unknowingly, this also opened the door to more diverse firms and led to three top-notch, minority-owned architecture firms winning projects.

Vines Architecture, EVOKE Studio Architecture, and Andre Johnson Architects are the first black-owned firms to lead building projects for WCPSS. “I am so proud that three highly-qualified and innovative black-owned firms are going to be working with WCPSS,” said Pamela Gales, HUB Program Manager for WCPSS. She said: “The more diversity, ideas and backgrounds you bring to a project, the better it is going to be. The designs each of these firms submitted are top-notch and are going to help take WCPSS in a new direction.”

Schools for the 21st Century

Webster explained that for years WCPSS has subscribed to using prototype designs for schools, creating cohesion across the district. After looking at school systems around the country, WCPSS realized it was time to develop schools that readily responded to the unique demands of the 21st century and the communities they serve.

Vines Architecture is a full-service, design-driven firm based out of Raleigh, North Carolina, dedicated to creating spaces that serve the unique needs and people of their communities. Vines Architecture will design a new 135K-square-foot elementary school in Holly Springs, North Carolina, that focuses on creating flexible, multipurpose spaces that can quickly transform to meet a public school’s unique needs. Vines Architectures’ transformative spaces allow schools to meet teachers’ and students’ many needs while still working with space and budget constraints.

“Vines Architecture has done this with many public libraries,” said Jolie Thomas, design principal at Vines Architecture. “There are spaces within schools that are more public, such as the cafeteria or gym, where we can begin to rethink how those spaces can function on a multipurpose level. For example, perhaps a cafeteria can also function as open classroom space.”

Andre Johnson Architects in Raleigh, NC, which specializes in creating unique designs for both higher-education and K-12, will be rebuilding Baucom Elementary school in Apex, North Carolina. Andre Johnson, the firm owner, said that their design focuses on connecting the school’s architecture to the land and the community.

“One of the things we never do when designing a structure is to come in and just plop a spaceship down,” Johnson said. “Every design we do is about how we can connect the space to the site and the people. For Baucom Elementary, we want to emphasize the beautiful landscape, preserve the trees, include large windows for natural light and fresh air, and make sure the structure pays homage to the original building.”

Evoke Studio Architecture, a firm in Durham, North Carolina, founded by Teri Canada, Billy Askey and Edwin Harris, was selected to design a 300K-square-foot middle school with a high school component in a new community on the outskirts of Morrisville, North Carolina. For this project, Evoke envisions using architecture and design to become the community’s anchor point – an element often lost in areas experiencing rapid growth.

“Evoke sees this as the perfect opportunity to create the heart of this up-and-coming community,” said Teri Canada, managing principal and co-founder of Evoke Studio Architecture. “We strive to create spaces and places that speak to the community. Building a school is a large investment of the public’s money, and I think the public should be able to experience and benefit from it.”

Wake County Public School System opened the Neuse River Middle School in 2020 after achieving M/WBE participation of more than 25% on the project. Wake County Public School System ushers in a new era of design, led by three black-owned architecture firms

Making History

Bringing in new and diverse firms for these projects was a critical step toward building a school system that is diverse, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the county.

For six-years, Gales has worked to make the WCPSS HUB Program more inclusive for MWBE and DBE firms, shooting for 20% MWBE participation in projects rather than the mandated 10%. With two large architecture schools in North Carolina, there is a wealth of talent to draw upon, so when WCPSS put out the call for fresh, innovative designs, they received many qualified proposals.

Gales said: “The designs that Evoke, Andre Johnson Architects, and Vines Architecture submitted stood out. I had hoped the committee would select one of them to lead a project. When WCPSS Historically Underutilized Business Program Manager Pamela Gales they chose all three, (right) hosts the 2019 City of Raleigh Small Business Expo with Cheryl Sutton I was overjoyed. We (left) and Maria Torres from the City of Raleigh MWBE Program. take pride in having a diverse school community. We want to be inviting, respectful and inclusive to everyone. The selection of these firms is testament to the talent in North Carolina and the evolution of WCPSS.”

Johnson said: “I don’t know if there is another area that has such a high concentration of HUB firms at the higher stratosphere. I want to pay homage to the excellence of HUB firms in this area. For Evoke, Vines Architecture, and Andre Johnson Architects to be in the first wave like this is humbling, and I am honored to be making history.”

All three firms also expressed a commitment to diversity and inclusion and letting rising talent shine. “Our list of consultants is intentionally diverse and includes people from all walks of life,” Canada said. “Not because they are minorities, but because diversity in our team enhances our work.”

WCPSS will open bidding to subcontractors in 2022. Gales explained that this is an excellent opportunity for other MWBE and DBE firms to participate in these projects; work alongside Vines Architecture, Andre Johnson Architects, and Evoke; and highlight their excellence while constructing buildings that will impact the community for decades to come. All projects will bid as Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), and notification will be sent to MWBE and DBE contractors for outreach and prequalification opportunities.

WCPSS Historically Underutilized Business Program Manager Pamela Gales (right) hosts the 2019 City of Raleigh Small Business Expo with Cheryl Sutton (left) and Maria Torres from the City of Raleigh MWBE Program.

A Worthy Investment

“How you invest your money as a society is a reflection of your goals and priorities,” said Edwin Harris, design principal and co-founder of Evoke Studio Architecture. “Public schools are not just inventory and commodities; they are real investments in our people. If you invest in your public schools, you are going to better society.”

Gales and Webster echoed this sentiment, explaining that WCPSS saw an opportunity to pivot and change how they approach buildings’ design. The designs of these new schools will prioritize the needs of teachers, students and the community, setting a new standard for excellence within WCPSS.

“We believe that architecture and design can improve our communities,” said Harris. “We want to create spaces that teachers and students are excited to be in and feel safe within. This is an exciting time for Wake County Public Schools and Evoke, Vines Architecture, and Andre Johnson Architects. We are so excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Teri Canada, principal and co-founder, EVOKE Studio. EVOKE Studios was selected to design one of three new school buildings for WCPSS.