Reinventing a Neoclassic: A Masterclass in Historic School Renovation

How do you incorporate cutting-edge features while preserving and complementing a building’s historic attributes? Even trickier, how can it be done when space is at a premium and the facility must stay fully operational throughout construction? These were the questions SHP answered when renovating the historic Walnut Hills High School.

While long known as one of the nation’s top high schools, Walnut Hills’ facilities struggled to support the school’s academic excellence. It’s a challenge that many schools and districts face: meeting the demands of educating a new generation of students in aging facilities.

In 2009—spurred by strong financial support from its alumni foundation, a commitment from Cincinnati Public Schools and local voters, and additional state funding through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission—Walnut Hills embarked on an ambitious renovation of its historic campus. The school selected SHP to bring this plan to life.

We’re revisiting our work at this historic high school renovation in our case study, Reinventing a Neoclassic.