Designing Lasting Impact: Gulf Shores City Schools Master Planning

Twin Motion Rendering

Serving almost 2,500 students, Gulf Shores City Schools’ recent separation from the Baldwin County Board of Education created an opportunity to craft improvements and future growth plans that incorporate the GSCS mission and values. WAV was selected to provide master planning and facility improvement studies for the existing Elementary, Middle and High School campus' growth and improvement strategies.

We were also selected to provide master planning for the future 40 acre Elementary School campus and 230 acre High School campus. The future High School campus focused on its incorporation into the larger fabric of the Coastal Alabama Center for Education Excellence, providing areas on the campus to integrate college and university buildings into the same campus.

WAV recently completed phase one of our Gulf Shores City Schools master plan designed to have an immediate impact for students and teachers returning Fall 2019. Phase one included: new car line, bus line circulation and drop offs, signature entry and canopy elements, new playgrounds and landscaping, and improvements to site lighting and security. These elements will create a more organized, safe and positive experience, addressing three initial areas of concern: appearance, safety and circulation.

Phase two plans are ongoing and begin to turn the focus inward to program spaces and interior improvements. The programming and development studies of the elements of phase two include a new cafetorium, learning labs, music and STEM classroom spaces, Media/Library renovations and outdoor learning spaces.

The Gulf Shores City Schools master plan is an exciting project because of the chance to take a holistic view of the opportunities to design improvements that will have lasting positive impact on the campus in the immediate future and as it grows over time.