Middleton High School was the first high school for African Americans in Hillsborough County, Florida when it opened in 1934 in East Tampa.  The school is named in honor of George S. Middleton, an African American businessman and civic leader who moved to Tampa from South Carolina in the late 19th century. A 1940 fire destroyed the school, which was rebuilt through the Works Progress Administration (WPA). There was a second fire in 1960, and Middleton closed in 1971 as a result of desegregation.

The new 166,000 sq. ft. high school reopened in a new location in 2002 with the support of alumni.   The site plan provides six primary program functions in separate core buildings arranged around a central landscaped open green area, including the administration building (with guidance offices, media center, and library), two classroom wings, cafeteria, gymnasium and 875-seat auditorium, as well as ancillary buildings for athletics and food service facilities, all connected by decorative pedestrian paths and exterior covered walkways. 

All buildings are constructed of 10-inch thick insulated lightweight cellular concrete tilt-up wall panels cast on site by Pro-Crete Systems.  The poured-in-place concrete floor slabs for each of the six primary buildings were used as separate staging areas for casting the wall panels for each building on the ground.

Aluminum sunshades were installed above all classroom window openings to mitigate heat gain from the year-round Florida sunshine.

Working with Sylla Incorporated (Architect of Record), James F. McLean, Jr. AIA (Educational Design Consultant) and The Beck Group (General Contractor),  I was tasked with client liaison, and co-direction of 4 to 6 intern architects during design development and construction documents phases with project architect Joseph Guerino AIA. 

The school includes general education, special education, and comprehensive vocational educational programs.  (Stock photos)