Our Historic Building
The Community Empowerment Center at Booker T. Washington is located in a building rooted in nearly 100 years of history. RCPS has worked with the community on several projects to ensure this history is preserved and lives on for generations to come.
Laying the Foundation, Building the Future
Watch as we lay the foundation for our new Community Empowerment Center while honoring the history of the Lucy Addison building.
Legacy of Education and Resilience
Located at 40 Douglass Avenue NW, the building opened in 1928 as Lucy Addison High School, built to serve Black students during segregation. Named for Lucy Addison, a pioneering Black educator who expanded secondary education opportunities for African American students, the school was a source of pride, achievement, and leadership in Northwest Roanoke.
In 1952, following the construction of a new Lucy Addison High School on 5th Street (now Lucy Addison Middle School), the original building was renamed Booker T. Washington Junior High School. After integration in 1971, the building became Roanoke City Public Schools’ Central Office, a role it served for more than 50 years.
Today, the building serves as the RCPS Community Empowerment Center, carrying forward its legacy of service to students, families, and the Roanoke community.
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Preserving Our History
As part of the building’s transformation into the Community Empowerment Center, RCPS has been intentional about preserving its historical importance and honoring the students and educators who have walked through these doors, through several commemorative projects:
- Virginia Landmarks Register Listing
- Highway Marker Honoring Lucy Addison
- Legacy Work History Wall
- "Legacy Voices" Video Series
- Commemorative Brick Event
