Government
BARC Electric Cooperative
An Adaptive Reuse Project
BARC Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative that provides electric and broadband service to roughly 13,000 connections across five counties in the Shenandoah Valley including, Bath, Alleghany, Highland, and Rockbridge.
Details
Size: 14,700 sf
Cost: $1.9 million
Client: BARC Electric Cooperative
Location:
1972 Big Spring Drive
Lexington, VA
Completion: 2023
Project Type: Commercial/ Adaptive Reuse
General Contractor: Lantz Construction
Project Info
In 2015, BARC took ownership of the Highland Belle School, situated at 1972 Big Spring Drive in Lexington. Acquired with the intention of renovations, the former school was slated to become BARC’s district office, providing a convenient hub in Rockbridge County, home to approximately half of its member-owners. Erected in 1958, the aging structure required significant upgrades to meet modern standards.
We updated the entrance and added skylights to allow for more natural light to provide a warmer, more up-to-date feel.
Following consultations with BARC Electric Cooperative to discern their requirements for the building, Mather Architects devised a comprehensive plan to modernize the space. We renovated and repurposed all the former classrooms into a dynamic array of spaces, now housing an executive suite, meeting rooms, a fitness center, breakrooms, and two office suites. The former cafeteria kitchen was repurposed into a spacious breakroom and locker area tailored specifically for the linemen. These transformations optimized the layout, maximizing functionality and utility for BARC Electric Cooperative’s needs.
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