Building for Brilliance: Harpeth Hall Lays the Foundation for Innovation

On April 9, shovels hit the ground at Harpeth Hall, marking the start of more than just construction. It marked the start of a new chapter—one built on years of vision, planning, and a community’s shared dream to shape the future of girls' education.

The new STEM Center, an addition and renovation to a building originally completed in the early 1980s, is designed to align with the school’s bold academic mission in a modern, flexible space. Enrollment has grown over the last 50 years and so has the need for environments that support how science and math are taught—and how they inspire. The reimagined building will feature classrooms that are 50% larger, a robust Maker Space equipped with tools for hands-on creation, and gathering areas to spark collaboration.

It’s the kind of space that says, "We believe in what girls can do."

For David Johnson and the JJCA team, this project has been a labor of leadership, not just serving as the Owner’s Representative. JJCA has been fortunate to serve as Harpeth Hall’s guide throughout the process—helping align big dreams with smart decisions. When the initial plan leaned toward tearing down the entire building and using temporary portables, David and the team paused, asked the right questions, and ultimately helped save $2.5 million by pursuing a strategic addition. That decision not only preserved valuable resources but kept momentum to achieve the vision.

As David puts it, our role is to interpret, guide, and connect all the dots—architecture, construction, funding, furniture—to ensure every decision supports the school’s goals. It’s not about replacing the architect. It’s about supporting the whole team, reading between the lines, and staying ahead of issues that could disrupt the schedule—or worse, the student experience.

This new STEM Center embodies the values Harpeth Hall holds dear: bold thinking, thoughtful innovation, and a profound commitment to preparing young women for a rapidly changing world.

Today, we celebrate the groundbreaking. Tomorrow, we get to work building a space that inspires discovery, supports collaboration, and reflects the strength of this remarkable community.

And we couldn’t be prouder to be part of it.