Maggie L. Walker Governor`s School for Government and International Studies
May 25, 2004The Maggie L. Walker Governor`s School for Government and International Studies provides a broad-based educational experience in a renovated historic neighborhood school. The three-story, redbrick building was constructed in 1938 and served as the first vocational high school built in the city of Richmond, Virginia for African American students. The renovated, state-of-the-art building has four classroom wings and embodies rich Art Deco style ornamentation. Thanks to a creative partnership involving the use of historic tax credits, capital contributions from public school districts and corporate and private donations, the building was completely renovated. This unique school, which provides an excellent educational setting, was selected because of its size, access and the overall mission to support the area.
The Maggie Walker School, which is situated in a diverse neighborhood, served its community from 1938 to 1979. Declining enrollment forced the school to close in 1989 and subsequently stood vacant until 2001 when the Maggie Walker School moved in. During its vacancy, vandals defaced the building and removed valuable features, including copper fittings. A fire was set in the auditorium, which significantly damaged the roof. The physical building also suffered moisture damage and pigeon infestation.
Due to its monumentality, the renovated Maggie Walker School is a dominant and anchoring building in its community. The school strives to work with the community by creating viable partnerships with community groups, sharing resources and being instrumental in the revitalization of the community. Since the renovation, there has been an increase in residential construction and reinvestment in the entire community. The community has also experienced a renewed sense of pride since the school reopened.
Today the Maggie Walker School is a regional high school for gifted students from thirteen Richmond area school districts. The school enrolls 150 students from the surrounding community. The school`s goal is to develop students understanding of world cultures and languages. The modernized building, which has classrooms with projectors for multi-media presentations, a computer lab, wireless networks and high-level graphics and audio editing computers, offers students the most advanced technology. All Maggie Walker students will receive lap top computers within the next three and a half years.
Date of Construction: 1938
Date of Renovation: 1999 - 2001
Total Renovation Cost: $23,389,955
