Eighteen months into construction, the project was fundamentally redefined when the Wake County Public School System made the strategic decision to convert the campus into a comprehensive high school for 1,800 students. This decision drove several significant changes: 1) interior alterations to support the combined school and HS program; 2) a 530-car parking deck to students and staff; 3) an expanded athletic stadium with a 2-story press box; and 4) a pedestrian bridge to safely bring students to the common campus green and entry area.
These additions were carefully integrated into the site to maintain a campus feel and preserve the clarity of the original concept and the relationships between architecture, landscape, and community. Key design ideas from the main building design are reused on the new campus elements including a common exterior material palette, an outdoor learning commons that doubles as viewing space during athletic events, and a multifunctional social stair descending from the bridge.
The main building opened for a limited student population in January 2026, and careful planning will allow the remaining phases to be constructed in time to complete the transition to the full high school by 2027.