When portable classrooms and outdated arts spaces couldn’t keep up with demand, Lexington County School District One in South Carolina saw more than a facilities problem — they saw a chance to create something transformative.
At White Knoll High School, enrollment growth had pushed students into temporary spaces, and its arts facilities lagged behind other campuses in the district. The solution wasn’t just a new building. It was a strategic, student-centered design that reimagined what a high school campus could deliver.
Initially, the district planned to replace the portables with a performing arts center adjacent to an existing classroom wing. But the design team at McMillan Pazdan Smith created a better path forward. By repositioning the building at the center of campus, the team helped consolidate the footprint, enhance security, and allow both the performing arts center and the classroom wing to be constructed simultaneously. That move cut the overall timeline by a full year — without adding cost or complexity.
We knew we could save them time and money, but more importantly, we saw a way to give students better spaces, faster. That early design strategy changed what was possible for the whole project.”
— Michelle Smyth, AIA, ALEP, LEED AP / Principal, McMillan Pazdan Smith
Where Learning + Creativity Take Center Stage
Photo by Brian Dressler.
The new 1,000-seat performing arts center makes White Knoll’s facilities equitable with other high schools in the district, giving students a professional-quality space to perform and grow. Designed with input from drama teachers, theater managers, and acoustical consultants, the center supports everything from daily rehearsals to district-wide and professional performances.
The adjacent two-story classroom wing added 32 teaching spaces, including labs for science, CTE, and occupational credential programs. Instead of crossing campus to temporary classrooms, students now learn in purpose-built environments designed for hands-on instruction. The layout prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and safety, with scheduled-access labs and central group spaces on each floor.
Standout features include:
- A kitchenette and hair-washing stations to support cosmetology instruction.
- A student-run print shop, used during the pandemic to produce safety signage for the entire district.
- Scheduled-access labs for after-hours learning.
- Large group collaboration areas designed into each floor.
- Floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in natural light and create a more welcoming learning environment.
Making Room for What Matters Most
Delivering these additions on an active campus required close coordination between MPS, the district, and construction partner H.G. Reynolds Company. By rethinking the original layout, the team avoided the cost and disruption of relocating the school’s portables — and completed the classroom wing five months ahead of schedule!
Photo by Brian Dressler.
Additional upgrades, including HVAC replacements and new IT infrastructure, were incorporated without extending the original construction timeline.
The White Knoll High School expansion wasn’t just about adding square footage. It was about giving students space to think bigger, perform more confidently, and prepare for futures shaped by curiosity, creativity, and connection.
To explore more learning environments designed by MPS, visit our K-12 project portfolio.
