May 24, 2016

LRPC Meeting

Stratford School Historic District

Designation

Background

• Designation of the Stratford School requested in March 2015.

• APS Staff, HPP Staff, and HALRB collaborated on a designation report and

design guidelines during the year.

• Designation process has run concurrently with plans for new addition and use

permit review.

• HALRB held a public hearing in June 2015 and found that building met 8 of 11

designation criteria. Historic District report reflects this finding.

• Amended Zoning Ordinance process allows County Board to exclusively

determine local district designations and hear CoAs for newly designated APS

properties..

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Historic Overview

Historical & Architectural Significance of Stratford School

• Individually listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register (2003) & National Register of

Historic Places (2004).

• Nationally significant as the first integrated public school in Virginia. Integration occurred in

February 1959, ending the Commonwealth’s policy of “massive resistance.”

• Locally significant as the County’s finest example of International Style architecture as

applied to a school.

• Built in 1950

• Designed by Architect Rhees Burket, Sr., architect for 4 schools in Arlington.

• Burket was a highly regarded expert in modern school construction and was a prolific

architect in our region. Stratford is the purest and best example of his work.

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Designation Request

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Proposed Distorict Boundaries

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Historic Overview

Stratford School After Construction in 1951… and Today

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ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

First Elected School Board in Virginia (1948)

• International Style - reflected national trend

• Appropriate for public buildings

• Functionalism

• Devoid of ornamentation

• Post-WWII population boom

• Form follows function

• Specialized classrooms

Historic Overview

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Stratford School - Design

New modern science labs,

gymnasiums, and library facilities.

Historic Overview

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Half of the Arlington County Police force was deployed to protect the

school and students on the 1st day of integration.

African American Students walking to school under

guard.

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Stratford School - Integration

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Historic Significance

Criterion A: The property is listed or is eligible for inclusion in the National

Register of Historic Places

Criterion B: The property has character, interest, or value as part of the

development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the country, state, or

nation.

Criterion C: The property was the site of a significant local, state, or

national event.

Criterion D: The property is associated with a person or persons who

significantly contributed to the development of the county, state, or nation.

Criterion E: The property embodies distinguishing characteristics of an

architectural style valuable for the study of a period, type, or method of

construction.

Criterion G: The property embodies the elements of design, detailing,

materials, or craftsmanship that renders it structurally or architecturally

significant.

Criterion H: The property has a distinctive location, or signgular physical

characteristic that makes it an established or familiar visual feature.

Criterion K: The property is suitable for preservation or restoration.

Design Guidelines

• The design guidelines are

intended to preserve and

protect the Stratford School

Local Historic District, and to

help manage new changes

and rehabilitation work in a

manner that is thoughtful,

predictable, and compatible

with the historic district.

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CoA Review Process

• New process only for School-owned properties designated after

January 1, 2016.

• County Board would review and approve, deny or approve with

conditions.

• HALRB would provide recommendation only to County Board.

• All other alterations would require consultation only with HPP

Staff.

• Design Guidelines based on Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

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Designation Process to Date

• Designation request received: March 31, 2015

• HALRB hearing: June 17, 2015

• School Board hearings: April 21st & May 5th, 2016

• Request to Advertise: May 14, 2016

• Planning Commission: June 6, 2016

• County Board Action: June 18, 2016

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Conclusion

• Staff finds that the Stratford School meets 8 of 11

Designation Criteria as defined in the Arlington County

Zoning Ordinance Section 11.3.4.A.

• Staff will be recommending that the Stratford School

property, as shown in the map attached to the

designation report, be designated as an Arlington County

Local Historic District.

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