Agenda Item
2. Druid Hills High School Modernization ~ Updated 11.14.2025
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, Acting Superintendent,
Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations
“Tradition Rich, Future Focused”
Druid Hills
High School
Modernization Project
Summary Presentation
11.14.2025
• Several community meetings were held beginning Spring
2024; seeking community, staff, and student feedback, which
is considered in the DCSD planning and budget process.
DHHS • DCSD is currently committed to Modernization for DHHS
Modernization (Board Action 2022). Modernization will bring existing
structures at DHHS up to contemporary standards and codes,
Project but it will not change the physical spaces (hallway size,
classroom size, stairwells, etc.)
• The modernization assessment revealed several physical
building and site challenges that are extremely disruptive to
overcome.
Project
Scenarios
• Modernize: Bring the current DHHS
site up to code. (~$80M)
• Modernize and Build: Add additional
classrooms, officially called
instructional units (IUs), on the
current DHHS site to have capacity
for 1600 students. (~$125M)
• Move: The neighborhood HS goes to
an alternative site, with the current
DHHS site being brough up to code
and renovated for another form of
instructional use. (~$200M, 2-for-1)
Recommendation: Project Location
Remain on Haygood Site
• While the site has limitations to meet all Neighborhood High School Specifications; a 1600 FTE
capacity High School with most indoor programming can be designed and constructed on this
site.
• Community Feedback suggested that the site has a rich tradition and importance to the local
community
Acknowledgements:
• Future expansion of the school is improbable
• Inability to provide all onsite programming
• The site's geographic location brings challenges for student assignment
Requirements for Site Use as a School
• Emergency vehicle access to rear of site: The existing access drive around the corner of the gymnasium is
far below the size required by codes for emergency vehicle access.
• Site accessibility: There are a multitude of ADA access issues for both ingress/egress to buildings and
movement across the site.
• Security: The campus lacks a border with secured points of access.
• Service access for Kitchen: The only access for deliveries to the kitchen is by hand truck from the entrance
drive. Trash from the kitchen must be carried by hand around the building, loaded on a gator and trailer, and
hauled to trash facilities in awkward locations.
• Sanitary sewer – lift station: Sanitary sewer • Storm water – current code compliance: Even the minimum
infrastructure must be replaced. possible degree of change to the site will trigger compliance with
current county requirements for limitation of storm water runoff.
• General roofing condition: Roofs across the facility • HVAC – aging equipment and campus-wide coordination of
have a multitude of issues, with replacement required control: With replacement of major equipment, which will
at most, and perhaps all, locations. generally be required for modernization, a new controls system
• Waterproofing at western side and lower levels of can be coordinated to integrate all systems across the campus.
Gymnasium: Exterior walls and below-grade retaining • Fire Alarm age and condition: The condition of the existing
walls have significant issues with water intrusion. system warrants replacement for long-term compliance with life
safety standards.
DRUID HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
Modernization Project
Haygood Drive
SUMMARY PRESENTATION
November 14, 2025
s September 23, 2025
Existing Conditions
Current Site Plan
Haygood Site
Recommendation:
Modernization and Additions
at current location
HAYGOOD DRIVE
Construction at the current site of the current Druid Hills High School
(1798 Haygood Drive) would require tailored construction phasing and
rigorous schedules to maintain daily school operations. However, as the
original site there is an opportunity to continue the school’s legacy by
replacing older buildings with modern additions that will stand the test of
time. Because of the limited site footprint, the consideration can be made
for certain programmatic components to stack vertically and reposition
the building(s).
The Program Analysis confirms the site can fully meet all DeKalb County
School District requirements for academic space and parking. Which can
be accomplished by means of a parking deck, exceeding the baseline
parking ratio. An athletic field can be provided on the top level of the deck.
The lack of available acreage and site configuration make it unfeasible to
construct a larger 2400 FTE facility should the program dictate a larger
school. A full-size football stadium is also unfeasible, as are facilities for
baseball and softball.
SITE DEFICIENCES
• Land Locked.
• Proximity of Drive and Parking Deck to north and east property lines.
• Restricted Expansion
PROGRAM DEFICIENCES
• Competition Track & Field is not provided.
• Competition Baseball / Softball Combination Field is not provided.
• Potential congestion due to vehicular traffic.
Site Assessment SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION November 14, 2025
Front Elevation
Site Assessments CONCEPTUAL RENDERING September 23, 2025
Front View of New Building
Site Assessments CONCEPTUAL RENDERING September 23, 2025
Evening View
Site Assessments CONCEPTUAL RENDERING September 23, 2025
Rear of School Building and Parking Deck
Site Assessments CONCEPTUAL RENDERING September 23, 2025
Aerial view of Athletics
Site Assessments CONCEPTUAL RENDERING September 23, 2025
Resolves all Requirements for Site Use as a School
• Emergency vehicle access to rear of site: The existing access drive around the corner of the gymnasium is
far below the size required by codes for emergency vehicle access.
• Site accessibility: There are a multitude of ADA access issues for both ingress/egress to buildings and
movement across the site.
• Security: The campus lacks a border with secured points of access.
• Service access for Kitchen: The only access for deliveries to the kitchen is by hand truck from the entrance
drive. Trash from the kitchen must be carried by hand around the building, loaded on a gator and trailer, and
hauled to trash facilities in awkward locations.
• Sanitary sewer – lift station: Sanitary sewer • Storm water – current code compliance: Even the minimum
infrastructure must be replaced. possible degree of change to the site will trigger compliance with
current county requirements for limitation of storm water runoff.
• General roofing condition: Roofs across the facility • HVAC – aging equipment and campus-wide coordination of
have a multitude of issues, with replacement required control: With replacement of major equipment, which will
at most, and perhaps all, locations. generally be required for modernization, a new controls system
• Waterproofing at western side and lower levels of can be coordinated to integrate all systems across the campus.
Gymnasium: Exterior walls and below-grade retaining • Fire Alarm age and condition: The condition of the existing
walls have significant issues with water intrusion. system warrants replacement for long-term compliance with life
safety standards.
Strategic Site Plan
The Design Approach:
• Construct a new 4 story
building horizontal to the
historical building.
• Construct a parking
structure with an athletic
Site
field on top adjacent to the
new building.
• The historical building will
be modernized.
• All other buildings will be
demolished.
Strategic Site Planning
• Site limitations will restrict the
maximum FTE to 1600 capacity.
• Provides for the facility specifications
for the curricular, co-curricular, and
Neighborhood
some extracurricular programming
School
Specifications (athletic fields)
• Will always have a lower educational
suitability score due to street access
and site space limitations in relation to
the specifications.
• The site will be accessed by Haygood
Drive
Parking & • A 2-level parking garage on campus
Circulation • A Car rider and Bus Ramp will be
constructed to increase vehicle staging
on campus.
Strategic Site Planning
• Phase I - Infrastructure work
• Phase II - demolition of the
gymnasium and relocation of at least
1-grade level.
• Phase III - new construction.
Phased
• Phase IV - modernization of
Construction
historical building
(≈36 months)
• Phase V - Move-in and demolition of
remaining existing buildings and
construction of parking deck
• Phase VI - construction of driveways
on street facing side of campus.
• Assessing relocating 9th grade to
Former Avondale HS
• 10-12th grade remain on campus
Swing Space • Need for additional offsite parking
• Need for additional athletic space
• Need for Band Practice Field and
JROTC Field
Swing Space
• Former Avondale HS (recommended)
• Capacity = 744
• Current enrollment = 302
• Available Seats = 442
• Towers HS
• Capacity =1302
• Current Enrollment = 781
• Available Seats = 521
CREATE 9TH GRADE DRUID HILLS HS • Columbia HS
ANNEX 9TH GRADE ≈ 435 • Capacity = 1426
• Current Enrollment = 842
• Available Seats = 584
HAYGOOD DRIVE – COST ESTIMATE
The total building area was derived from the Program Analysis and the
DCSD minimum program requirements for a 1600 FTE high school. The
construction cost per square foot is based on the tracking of historical
construction cost data and projected market conditions.
SUMMARY PRESENTATION November 14, 2025
Funding
• E-SPLOST VI: $10 million is allocated to
planning and continued upkeep of the
existing building
• E-SPLOST VII is currently the primary
funding source for construction.
• E-SPLOST VII referendum on November
2026 Ballot
Next Steps
Upon Approval…
• Swing Space:
Adjust Architect’s
• Program Adjustments
contract
• Staffing
• Scheduling
Begin Procurement of • Facility Assessment
Construction Manager • Transportation
• Shared Spaces
Anticipate ≈ 12 months
of Design & Permitting
Thank you
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS