When Valor Collegiate Academies purchased an abandoned Lowe’s Home Improvement store in South Nashville, MZA embraced the ambitious challenge of transforming the cavernous retail space into Valor College Prep High School. Tasked with turning a windowless, industrial shell into a vibrant educational facility for over 1,200 students, MZA creatively carved out a lush, green courtyard at the building’s heart, flooding classrooms, labs, and music rooms with natural light. MZA also added a second level within the initial footprint, creating room and flexibility. The outcome is an energetic, inviting campus centered on dynamic shared spaces that foster Valor's values of presence and mentorship, demonstrating the strength of adaptive reuse.