St. Croix High School & Vocational Training Center, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands

The HADP goal for the project was to create a modern educational facility that responded to the program and utilized a construction that could be economically accomplished on the island of St. Croix.

The project consists of an 800 student high school and a vocational training center that are co-located on a spectacular hillside on the Island of St. Croix. This complex is located directly across the street from the University of the Virgin Islands. The high school component provides 172,500 s.f. of space and the vocational component provides 140,000 s.f. of space.

The St. Croix Educational complex provides not only an academic high school, but a vocational center as well, serving both the high school students and adult members of the Island. The academic center and vocational center share the complex's 1300-seat gymnasium, 700-seat auditorium, cafeteria and kitchen. The complex is organized along a diagonal circulation spine with large courtyards at each end, serving as focal points for the facilities. This allows pleasant island breezes to reach the adjacent building areas. The spine also passes through the one-story common facilities building where it provides covered exterior public and student gathering areas, as well as exterior lobby spaces. Exterior walkways which shade adjacent walls, operable aluminum louvers at the windows, roof overhangs and the particular orientation of the facility to capture prevailing breezes contribute to the complex's energy efficiency, while enhancing and blending with the overall appearance.