Designed by Walter McCornack in the early 1920s, John Handley High School is an important civic institution for the Winchester community. The majestic landscape designed by the Olmsted Brothers and powerful façade of the school make a promise of a great education to Winchester’s 9th – 12th graders and the surrounding community.

Over time a state of disrepair and a series of unfortunate additions made it difficult for the educators and the building to deliver on that promise. VMDO designed a series of renovations and additions to accommodate enrollment growth while maintaining the building’s status on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in multiple phases while the school was continuously occupied, the new design preserves the building’s historic elements with restoration aided by tax credits.

The design introduces better visibility to the outdoors and along main paths of circulation without compromising the historic character of the original building. The original gymnasium space at the heart of the school was repurposed as a lantern-like library. Former courtyards that were enclosed became a new student commons and a student union / café. Increased transparency in the roof over these courtyards allows abundant daylight to fill these popular student dining spaces. The main corridor in the original building is lined with replicas of great works of art from the Smithsonian that were evacuated to Handley during World War II. The restored theater pays homage to one of Handley’s most famous graduates, Patsy Cline.