In addition to the design concept of a small academic environment within a large school was the client's desire to preserve the balance of the school's needs for decreased maintenance and lower operating costs with its strong value of aesthetic features. The project design team met this request through a thoughtful design and the careful selection of high-value materials. Inspired by the natural setting of the site, and taking into consideration the committee members' general concept words, the team then developed the design concept of a mountain lodge theme.

Lodge theme features include an entrance sign made of cedar and planks, local hand-molded bricks harkening back to another era, and galvanized stairs and handrails that wear and age richly while connecting each generation of students to the next. Connected by a "main street corridor," the academic portion of the school is divided into four houses with distinctive features such as wainscoting and varying wood types and door surrounds to foster each student group's own identity. Other spaces along the corridor include a large group instruction area, auditorium, coffee shop, music, choir and arts halls, a black-box theater with traditional marquee, administration spaces, two practice gymnasiums, a practice pool, library and cafeteria.