Located in the heart of Raleigh, Broughton High School is the oldest of 29 high schools in Wake County. Originally constructed in 1929 and expanded in 1951, the school is listed in the National Register Historic of Historic Places.
An architectural landmark for generations of schoolchildren in Raleigh, Broughton faced extensive upgrades in 2004 to preserve the educational facility for years to come.
RATIO collaborated with the client to correct significant water damage, address accessibility and code issues, address outdated HVAC and electrical systems, and update finishes that desperately needed to be replaced. In addition, existing mortar joints were tuck pointed and sealants were replaced; windows in the 1929 and 1950 parts of the building were replaced with historically appropriate windows; roofing on the low-sloped roof was replaced; tile roofs were repaired and copper gutters and downspouts were made to match.
Additionally, the project involved gutting the high school’s theater and renovating it to meet programmatic and accessibility needs. Solid oak casework found in classrooms was refinished and preserved, and new floor and ceiling finishes were installed. Plaster ceilings were replaced with lay-in acoustical ceilings and new lockers lined the corridors.
While the list of improvements was extensive, all work was done while the school was occupied.