North Jefferson Middle School

Jefferson County Board of Education

Completed in the summer of 2004, North Jefferson Middle School was the first new school commissioned by the Jefferson County School System in a decade. Based on extensive experience in designing schools, Davis Architects was challenged to develop an economical prototype for 725 students on a 45-acre site (including athletic fields) that could be replicated throughout the county.

The concept developed by Davis involved an innovative plan that separated assembly spaces from conventionally constructed classrooms. Load-bearing masonry was employed on the one-story classroom structure to achieve budget economies while the taller assembly spaces were supported by steel beams. Through careful massing and a highly efficient plan that included 28 classrooms, 8 exceptional education classrooms, a gymnasium, a media center and a “cafeterim” with a working stage, the design met the county school board’s expectations so well that the county has continued to follow Davis Architects’ model for other new middle schools in the system.

The new facility achieved another important client objective of unifying the multiple communities the new school was designed to serve and giving them a school in which each community could take pride. In recognition of Davis Architects’ demonstrated abilities, the Jefferson County School System has since selected the firm to design three new county high schools.

At a glance

• Located in Kimberly, AL

• 109,221 sf

• Completed 2004

Services

• Architecture

• Interior Design