The new modern, efficient, and environmentally responsible middle school design evolved from its rich agricultural context, such that the building form recalls an agrarian vernacular. The project simultaneously embraces the rise of advanced manufacturing along the I-85 corridor through form, material, and program. Vernacular design embeds cultural, geographic, and economic aspects into architecture, incorporating the tenet of ‘doing more with less.’ Sustainable strategies, including geothermal heating and cooling, passive solar design, daylight harvesting,‘green’ material selections, and an impermeable building envelope reinforce the blend of intuitive rural vernacular and high-tech design solutions. The building is a community landmark and defined by an iconic entry tower and welcoming, pedestrian canopy. Transparency in group collaboration rooms create layered views of activity, fostering connections and a sense of shared experience.