The Historic Douglass High School Education & Development Campus

Built in 1941, Douglass High School was Loudoun County’s only accredited high school serving Black students prior to court-ordered integration in 1968, and today it remains a symbol of the struggle for equal rights in education in Northern Virginia. BBB worked closely with Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)—with input from alumni, local preservation officials, and other stakeholders—to revitalize five buildings for administrative and recreational spaces for LCPS, the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services (PRCS), and a Consortium comprising the Loudoun Douglass High School Alumni Association, the Loudoun County branch of the NAACP, and the Edwin Washington Society. BBB restored the exteriors of the original 1941 building and Shop and rehabilitated later additions from 1954 and 1960 to improve the building envelope and energy performance. Interior work re-established the volume of the original central hall and stage, restoring original features where possible and recreating new elements to be contextual with the historic details that remained. Throughout the site, a comprehensive interpretive program including artwork, exhibits, and BBB-designed graphics commemorates the school’s history, while a new entrance plaza on Market Street and civil rights-themed playground provide additional space for community activities.

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