News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
A phased, Net Zero transformation keeps students learning during construction
On the edge of a wooded creek in southeast Washington, DC, a mid-century school building stands at a turning point. For nearly 70 years, students have passed through the doors of Charles Hart Middle School, moving between additions layered on over decades. Now, heavy equipment is preparing to arrive, geothermal wells are about to be drilled deep into the ground below, and an ambitious plan is taking shape to transform the campus while school remains in session.
This is not a simple renovation. It is a carefully choreographed modernization that must contend with approximately half the site and nearly one-third of the existing building on a flood plain. Classrooms will stay active as construction crews are strategically coordinated to work in phases adjacent to them. Walls will rise, systems will be replaced, and new spaces will open one year at a time, all while students and staff continue their daily routines.
Phased construction will begin Summer 2026, with the first phase of delivery scheduled for the 2027-28 school year. To make that possible, the school will operate in an onsite swing configuration, allowing learning to continue uninterrupted as construction advances in carefully sequenced stages.
Early site work includes geothermal well drilling and preparation to support simultaneous operations and construction. Sustainability is central to the plan. Existing rooftop solar panels will be removed and replaced as part of a broader strategy to achieve Net Zero energy performance, positioning the campus for long-term energy efficiency and resilience.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the modernization reshapes the campus around community priorities. A new flexible partner space will support neighborhood programming beyond the school day, reinforcing the school’s role as a local anchor.
The project also eliminates a long-standing roadway reservation that once preserved the possibility of a future connection across the property. Its removal allows the campus to be designed fully around students and community needs.
Delivered under a Public Labor Agreement and meeting Certified Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise requirements, the project reflects a broader commitment to equitable economic participation.
As design advances and construction begins, this modernization represents more than a facilities upgrade. It is a coordinated effort to solve complex site challenges, deliver high-performance sustainability, and keep education moving forward without pause.
MCN Build and STUDIOS Architecture are partnering as the design-builder, the same team that previously delivered Garfield Elementary School, and will deliver MacArthur High School this summer, for DC Public Schools. B&D’s Dan Nebhut and Derek Riley are leading the project management effort in close partnership with the District’s Department of General Services and DC Public Schools.
“This project demands precision at every level,” said Nebhut. “We are sequencing construction around an active school, addressing real environmental constraints, and building toward Net Zero performance. The goal is not just a new building, but a better long-term experience for students and the community.”
