Established in 1917, the Rosenwald School Project was an initiative founded by Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald to support Black students facing segregation in the South. Until they ceased operation in 1932, the schools enlisted teachers, principals, and community members to create educational havens for Black schoolchildren in a society ruled by race.
By 1932, the foundation had built over 5,000 schools spanning Virginia to Florida, only 500 of which are still standing. Many of the existing schools haven’t been used in some capacity for decades, leaving the fate of these historically significant structures up to dedicated communities who have envisioned their future as spaces that bring light to America’s past.
Rehabilitation of these historic structures has been a key focus for many southern communities, including the Town of Cape Charles, Virginia on the Chesapeake Bay. The mission of Cape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration Initiative (CCRSRI) is to recognize the school’s legacy and offer experiences that engage and enrich the community, promote cultural awareness and understanding, and support self-sufficiency and economic mobility.
The project recently received a $1M grant from the Industrial Revitalization Fund through Virginia Housing and Community Development to complete phase II for the school’s rehabilitation and adaptive reuse for a new community center. The project is expected to have an economic impact on Northampton County of more than $26 million over the next 10 years and create more than 30 jobs.
Once complete, the school turned community center will offer workforce and job training classrooms, a community kitchen, business incubator space, meeting and performance spaces, an exhibit space, and artifact storage.
Kathleen Halpaus, a senior manager working on the project, said the opportunity to support the school’s reuse has been an enlightening one. “The Rosenwald Schools are a historically significant asset to our community, and Timmons Group is especially proud to play a part in their rehabilitation. The fact that we were able to support the foundation and client with pro bono work makes this experience even more fulfilling,” Kathleen said.
Several of Timmons Group’s teams supported the project by donating civil engineering services, including site planning, grinder pump station design, and traffic consulting.
Timmons Group is working closely with architect Patina Group and CCRSRI to bring the historic building back to life for its new purpose.
Read more about the project from Shore Daily News >> https://shoredailynews.com/headlines/rosenwald-school-gets-1-million-state-grant/
