Nashville-based architectural studio HASTINGS has designed James Lawson High School in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The studio’s vision for the school sets a precedent for design and sustainability in secondary education across Tennessee, with an emphasis on ecological design interventions. Situated on a 274-acre plot and spanning 300,000 square feet across three storeys and numerous volumes, James Lawson High School’s design cleverly addresses site challenges. The school’s expansive layout creates an array of learning and sporting opportunities that enhance the overall educational experience.
Hub for collaboration and community engagement
James Lawson High School is named in honour of Rev. James Lawson (1928 – 2024), a civil rights activist and champion of non-violent activism. Lawson helped to organise lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville, which challenged segregation and fought for racial equality. HASTINGS worked in collaboration with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, the city’s school district, to design a facility that meets the diverse educational needs of 1,600 students. The design also involved meetings with teachers, students, and community members, ensuring the school can provide a hub for collaboration and community engagement.
A bucolic setting
James Lawson High School is actively pursuing LEED Gold certification in recognition of its high-performance, energy-efficient design: this is central to the project’s sustainability strategy. Sustainable and ecological measures include the use of rooftop photovoltaic arrays, a closed-loop geothermal system, rainwater harvesting, green roofs, and outdoor classrooms that connect with the surrounding bucolic setting.
The school’s design intertwines with the landscape. A grey shale brick facade has striations that reference the stratified limestone bluffs prevalent in Middle Tennessee. Other materials include concrete, terrazzo, brick, and wood. The school features an abundant use of glass — it is orientated to maximise solar exposure, controlling thermal comfort and natural light while minimising glare
The building design leverages the site’s slope to incorporate entry across all three levels, reducing accessibility challenges and facilitating the smooth flow of students.
A diversity of educational and social spaces
At the heart of James Lawson High School, a large steel-framed student commons serves as the school’s main entry foyer and provides a social hub for students and teachers. The white terrazzo flooring, maple acoustic baffles, full-height glazing, and learning stairs create a space that combines spirited gravitas with warmth.
The commons looks onto the two-storey library and staircases on either side lead to the school’s academic building and a third-floor cafeteria. The academic building has five wings that extend from a central hallway — two at the rear and three at the front. A terrace, accessible via the cafeteria, provides space for al fresco dining and views across the sports fields. The school’s facilities also include a 500-seat theatre, two gymnasiums, a dance studio, rehearsal space, and several hands-on learning academies, from engineering to healthcare.
“The design and construction of James Lawson High School marks a pivotal milestone for the public school district and the students that will flow through its halls,” says HASTINGS. Designed to be contextually honest and respectful of its surroundings, the school goes beyond mere functionality. The building blends into its environment, elevates sustainability strategies, and becomes a new community asset for Nashville.”
