West Fairmont Middle School

• Fairmont, West Virginia
• 118,000 SQ. FT.
• Architectural and Engineering Services
• Project Cost: $15,000,000
• Completed 2007

West Fairmont Middle School replaced two aging schools with a modern educational facility in Fairmont, West Virginia. The Marion County Board of Education selected OMNI Associates – Architects to provide architectural and engineering services for the project.

The new school replaced Dunbar Middle School and Miller Junior High School. Both facilities dated to the 1920s and each served approximately 350 students. Marion County identified a new middle school as a priority after gathering input from residents throughout the community.

OMNI worked with the Board of Education to design a 118,000-square-foot facility that could meet the needs of students, educators, and staff. The team delivered the $15 million project through a design-build approach.

Beyond replacing outdated educational facilities, West Fairmont Middle School played an important role in the surrounding neighborhood. The project became an early investment in Fairmont’s Beltline Area, which local leaders had identified for future redevelopment.

The City of Fairmont, Marion County, and the Board of Education shared a long-term vision for the Beltline Area. Their plans called for transforming the area into a more active mixed-use neighborhood.

The new school helped move those plans forward.