Transforming the historic 1935 elementary school into a state-of-the-art facility for the School of Music and the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology required a careful balance of preserving the building’s heritage while introducing modern functionality. One of the main challenges was creating acoustically viable spaces in a structure not originally designed for this purpose. Every design decision—from soundproofing the recording studio to optimizing practice rooms—was made with the goal of blending the building’s historic character with cutting-edge sound technology.

To ensure the building met contemporary needs, we incorporated modernized program elements such as high-density storage, new conference rooms, restrooms, and office spaces, all while preserving key historic elements like the exposed brick. This delicate balance allowed us to honor the building’s legacy while making it a fully functional, modern academic facility.

The project also faced structural challenges, particularly in achieving the desired basement program spaces. The existing conditions, such as varying ceiling heights, tunnels, and structural inconsistencies, required creative solutions for HVAC and infrastructure placement. Unexpected obstacles, including multiple subfloors, unsupported beams, and previously undocumented columns, were overcome through frequent site visits and collaboration with our consultants, ensuring that the project remained on track.