Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Originally built in the 1890s, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) has long been a cornerstone of artistic and academic excellence for 9th to 12th-grade students. This project transformed the aging national landmark into a vibrant, state-of-the-art hub for academic achievement and creative expression.

The design and construction of DESA required a delicate balance between restoring and respecting the historic fabric of the building.  The 100,000 SF addition introduced substantial new educational and performance spaces. Central to the design is a four-story, sky-lit atrium, with an iconic 800-seat theatre suspended in the center—serving as the institution’s metaphorical heart. The scope of work also included new classrooms and multi-purpose rooms to accommodate a 21st-century learning environment.