The design of the new Upper Learning Building will pay homage to the iconic Gresham building by incorporating elements of the original building into the design of the new building. We understand the significance of preserving and honoring our cultural heritage and commit to documenting and publicly displaying the rich history of the old building in the new building to ensure that the spirit and essence of Gresham remains alive and celebrated in the community. The building will be a cutting-edge multi-story facility that when finished will be roughly twice the size of the current Gresham Building while occupying the same footprint of the building. 

This building will give our students much needed flexible and intentional indoor and outdoor space with all spaces designed to maximize teaching and learning. It will provide the Galloway community with crucial resources in today’s modern educational landscape, bringing together under one roof many existing programs and providing a well-rounded educational experience that continues to push the boundaries of our students. 

The new Upper Learning building will also allow us to enhance the interior courtyard of the school while adding a layer of safety and security for our students as they enjoy the newly created outdoor gathering and eating spaces. This space will allow for a richer educational experience for all of our students and will allow us to bring back the cherished tradition of being able to hold graduation in the courtyard once again.

Additionally, the facility affords Galloway the opportunity to increase the size, number, and types of classrooms, consolidate the administrative offices, providing work space that encourages collaboration and efficiency, and to create intentional group and meeting space. The building will allow for unification of all aspects of the Upper Learning program at Galloway, including an interdisciplinary experimental design space situated at the intersection of art, technology, and design where students can be immersed in the creative process, and an outdoor elevated terrace with sweeping views of Chastain Park and Buckhead. 

The new facility will also enhance accessibility, variety, and program scheduling with a new kitchen and indoor/outdoor eating space.  With these new spaces, Galloway will no longer be encumbered by a dining facility that not only does not meet the needs of the school, but in fact impedes our class schedules, academic programming, and our ability to deliver a quality and relevant educational experience for our students.

The new Upper Learning building will provide a better and more user friendly and accessible library, media center, multi-use collaboration spaces, flexible and communal indoor and outdoor spaces designed specifically to strengthen our evolving academic programs, innovative teaching practices, relevant curriculum design, and student interests and needs. From group projects and individual study rooms to a digitized media space, this new building will not only foster academic innovation but will be designed to cultivate a sense of community and collaboration among students and faculty and be the true connective hub of our campus.

To accommodate all of our students more effectively, Galloway will renovate the interior and exterior of the Sims Building turning the entire space into a state of the art Early Learning Center for our youngest learners.

To enhance the building and provide more usable space, this campus update will:

• create a more welcoming environment by adding more windows and natural light to each classroom;
• reconfigure the front lobby and reception area to greet visitors immediately as they enter;
• repurpose the walkway space behind to the building to facilitate more outdoor learning opportunities;
• add more natural play spaces outdoors;
• move dining out of the Next Stage in order to create more programmable and multi use space;
• install new flooring and lighting; and
•  upgrade interior design elements to increase learning spaces to make way for the potential of other systemic programmatic adjustments post-renovation. 

The renovation of the Sims Building will also include perimeter improvements along the back of the building and in the area between the Arnold Building and the Gym allowing for a singular protected campus experience. By creating natural barriers and repurposing existing outdoor spaces, the school will be better secured, have more usable outdoor space for students and staff, and maximize the educational footprint of the campus. Other enhancements will also be made along the entire perimeter of the property for the safety and security of our students.

In addition to the plans laid out for our buildings, the new safety and security measures that will secure the perimeter of the campus will include:

• installing new gated entrances in between the existing and new buildings to limit all direct access to the interior of the campus;
• additional preventative landscaping elements around the campus;
• removing the concrete steps from the street up to our walkway and fencing the front lawn;
• moving the stairs between the Upper Fields and the back of Sims in order to activate those spaces and only allowing direct access from the classrooms and interior gated courtyard area; and
• integrated and enhanced security infrastructure including new building access points, cameras, and intercom system.