Restoration Academy, founded in the late 1980s by Sharon and Anthony Gordon, emerged in response to rising crime and limited opportunities in Fairfield, Alabama—a former steel town facing economic decline. The school was created to serve local youth and has grown steadily alongside its mission.

The campus’s physical evolution reflects that growth. Starting with a single metal building in 2004, the school expanded in 2018 with new classrooms and administrative offices. In 2024, a new multipurpose dining hall marked a major step forward in functionality and community impact.

More than a cafeteria, this multifunctional space combines a commercial kitchen with seating for up to 200 students, enabling in-house breakfast and lunch service. Exposed long-span decking and integrated acoustical treatments not only celebrate the building’s structural expression but also ensure sound control for a wide range of activities—from dining and chapel to fellowship and school events—functions that were previously limited by the original gym’s capacity.

Set within a dense urban context, the design maximizes the footprint by stacking a second floor above the kitchen. This upper-level houses three classrooms, two administrative offices, and a series of cantilevered study nooks overlooking the double-height dining hall. These quiet, elevated zones provide space for tutoring and focused work while maintaining visual connection to the communal core.

Together, these additions demonstrate how thoughtful design can meet practical needs while  strengthening a school’s identity, functionality, and connection to the surrounding community.

Completion Date

2024 | 13,200 SF

Project Team

General Contractor:
JohnsonKreis Construction
Interior Design:
Barrett Architecture Studio
Consultants:
BBG&S Engineering Consultants
Tucker Jones Engineers Associated
Consulting Constructing Engineering Photography:
Art Maripol