Hardin Valley Academy

Overview

Hardin Valley Academy is Knoxville’s first all new high school in more than forty years, delivered by Merit Construction for the Knox County Board of Education through the Knox County Public Building Authority. Completed in July 2008, the 275,000 square foot campus was designed to serve 2,100 students in grades 9 through 12 and has become a key educational anchor for the growing Hardin Valley community. The school sits on a shared campus with Hardin Valley Elementary School, also constructed by Merit in 2000, creating a unified educational environment from early grades through graduation.

In recognition of its design and impact, Hardin Valley Academy was named 2008 High School of the Year by the Tennessee School Boards Association.

Project Scope and Features

Merit delivered a full ground up high school campus with a broad mix of academic, arts, and athletic spaces, including:

• A two story central atrium that serves as a gathering space and circulation hub for students and staff
• Classroom wings designed to support modern teaching for grades 9 through 12 with a capacity of 2,100 students
• A 695 seat auditorium for performances, assemblies, and community events
• A 2,100 seat gymnasium for physical education, practice, and competitive athletics
• A media center designed to support research, collaboration, and technology driven learning
• Dedicated facilities for music and fine arts, supporting band, choir, and visual arts programs
• Outdoor athletic facilities designed to accommodate practice, competition, and community use

The project was delivered while coordinating with the existing Hardin Valley Elementary School on the same campus, requiring careful planning for access, phasing, and safety.

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Project Details

• Owner
  Knox County Board of Education
  c/o Public Building Authority of the County of Knox and City of Knoxville
• Architect
  The Lewis Group, Knoxville, Tennessee
• Size
  275,000 square feet
• Completion
  July 2008

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Results

Merit completed Hardin Valley Academy on time and under budget, meeting the expectations of the owner, design team, and community. The project provided Knox County with a modern, full service high school capable of supporting growing enrollment and a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs.

Merit insisted on the highest quality of work while managing the cost as if it were their own money on the line. The project was completed on time and under budget which was only possible through the hard work and dedication that the Merit team brought to the table.

Mr. Jeff Galyon
Knox County Public Building Authority

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