Project Objectives

The purpose of this project is to replace the existing Neelsville Middle School and to provide program spaces for Grades 6–8 that meet the requirements of the educational specifications provided by MCPS. The new facility is being built on existing playfields on the west side of the site, and the existing school remains operational during the construction of the new facility.

The project will increase student enrollment capacity, address accessibility and safety issues, and provide new building systems. The new facility will provide modernized educational spaces with improved infrastructure and flexibility to better serve the Neelsville community. 

Facility design goals include the following:

• Provide space to facilitate the educational goals of the school.
• Provide ample and controllable natural light for all learning spaces.
• Provide a safe environment to promote the well-being of all occupants.
• Provide understandable and easily navigated circulation and common spaces.
• Maximize energy efficiency of the facility with a goal to meet Net-Zero Energy Ready, in line with the long-term goals of Montgomery County and the state of Maryland.
• Plan for shared use of key building spaces by the community.

 The site design goals include the following:

• Improve the civic presence of the school.
• Improve site access and circulation patterns for vehicular and bus traffic.
• Increase safety through improved visibility of site access.
• Improve safety by minimizing or eliminating pedestrian crossing of vehicular areas.
• Provide efficient and unobtrusive service access to the school.
• Enhance and maximize access to the beautiful natural resources of the site.
• Allow for shared use of the fields by the wider community.