Davis-Edwards-Harris Educational Complex
Designed as a transformational educational destination for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, this new campus brings Mercer Middle School, Groves High School, and a Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program together within a cohesive learning environment that serves more than 2,400 students.
LOCATION Garden City, GA
COMPLETED 2023
SIZE 435,000 SF
PHOTOGRAPHER Susan Holt
AWARDS AIA Savannah
A Unified Site
Site planning carefully responds to the constraints of the 43-acre property while creating clear distinctions between middle and high school learning environments. A thoughtful organizational strategy separates grade levels while maintaining a strong sense of campus cohesion through shared amenities, connected circulation, and a consistent architectural language. Student movement, vehicular circulation, and operational functions are organized to create intuitive wayfinding, enhance safety, and support the daily rhythms of a large and active educational community.
Design Details
The design balances scale, flexibility, and identity. Originally envisioned as a K–12 campus that included an elementary school, the educational complex was strategically planned with adaptability in mind. As enrollment needs evolved, the building seamlessly transitioned to support a 6th–12th grade program, demonstrating the resilience of a design framework capable of accommodating changing educational priorities without compromising functionality or experience.
A defining feature of the campus is the dedicated CTAE building, which supports hands-on, career-focused learning through highly specialized instructional spaces. Designed to accommodate aircraft maintenance, logistics, and other workforce development programs, the facility integrates classrooms, labs, and equipment-intensive environments that prepare students for high-demand regional industries. By aligning educational opportunities with workforce needs, the design creates meaningful pathways from classroom to career.