In addressing a concern for the impersonal culture of large schools, Alpharetta High School is designed to support a “school within a school” concept.
The 1,850 student school population is divided between three classroom wings (or “houses”), where each wing is served by a core group of teachers.

Students leave their houses for athletics, art, music and career technology classes, and may switch houses for some language and science courses.  However, the classroom wings were designed with the flexibility to support a variety of other organizational models as well.

The classroom wings open to a linear spine connecting the building's shared facilities:  the media center, cafeteria, career tech components, arts and atheletic facilities.  In response to the client's desire for a campus atmosphere, the arts and athletic facilities are located in separate buildings near the front door to facilitate public access during and after school hours.