Deer Valley High School

The 306,000 SF Deer Valley High School sits on a 56-acre site; it was built in successive phases starting in 1980. The largest and oldest high school in the Deer Valley Unified School District, the existing school desperately needed a major renovation to meet the needs of 21st-century students who require flexible spaces, technology, and increased safety and security.

An assessment of the existing facility showed that a substantial amount of underutilized space could be repurposed for bond-funded improvements instead of constructing a new building. The original scope was to provide a new Band building addition; however, existing space was repurposed, and other programs were relocated throughout campus.

Five focus areas were at the core of this $25 bond project modernization effort: circulation and operational security, external control and internal function security, conservation, environment, and wayfinding.

Phase 1 – Career Technical Education (CTE) Improvements to the Nursing, Hospitality and Tourism Programs

Existing traditional classroom spaces were repurposed to provide technology for instruction and with lab spaces for hands-on learning. The Nursing lab contains patient hospital beds and a replicated intensive care unit. The Hospitality and Tourism lab includes a demonstration commercial kitchen.

Phase 2 – Improved External and Internal Aesthetics

The entire campus received a fresh new color scheme and upgraded building exteriors to provide a modern cohesive look. The Front Office and Performing Arts building entrances were enhanced with colonnade structures for more pronounced and inviting visitor arrival. The campus reception area was enlarged and redesigned to provide secure, controlled access to the campus. The new central campus Courtyard provides softer pedestrian areas with seat walls, landscaping, and shade canopies for students to congregate, and covered walkways between buildings.

Interior improvements included remodeling the Library with new collaborative seating, computer workstations, and a cafe to be run by the Student Government. An unused Vocations classroom was repurposed as a Dance Studio (relocated from the Gym), and the practice studio used by the Cheer/Dance team was upgraded; both spaces were upgraded with wood dance floors. Additional Vocation classroom spaces were remodeled for the ROTC program and a large computer lab.

The Athletic Training and Rehabilitation center was upgraded to better serve study-athletes with an office, and new training equipment. Outdated plastic laminate cabinets and countertops were upgraded to stainless at the Gym Concessions. Two classrooms were combined and remodeled for a larger space with new technology for sports team meetings. The previous Dance Studio space in the Gym was remodeled into a Fitness Center with aerobic equipment, sports flooring, and mirrored walls. Translucent windows were added to provide natural light to the Weights area on the upper Gym mezzanine.

Phase 3 – Interior Improvements of the Remaining Campus Building

Hallways and classrooms were repainted using different color schemes and signage for improved wayfinding, and lockers and concrete bases were removed. Cabinets and countertops were upgraded in classrooms. Science labs were upgraded with new wood casework, epoxy resin countertops, utilities, and technology. Special Education facilities were fully remodeled with a mock residential kitchen and washer/dryer for student skill development. A cutting-edge Forensic Science classroom was provided in a new building addition to the Science wing, which features real-world forensic equipment and associated prep and storage areas. The school Band facilities were enlarged to take over a whole wing of the Performing Arts building by relocating the Choir program to a repurposed Dance Studio space.