Episcopal High School is about to get a lot brighter.
The private high school at 1200 N. Quaker Lane has been approved to serve as a training site for a team participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and now the school wants to install field lighting with 47 light poles between 40-to-100-feet-tall.
The Episcopal property abuts the Seminary Hill neighborhood, and the school is asking that the plans be in effect for 10 years.
According to the city:
It is anticipated that in addition to lights being installed on the Track Field and Hummel Bowl, lights will be installed on the School’s Soccer, Baseball, Softball, Field Hockey/Lacrosse fields as well as the tennis courts as part of a multi-year capital improvement program for EHS.
FIFA announced Episcopal as a potential training site last fall, and the selected team will stay at Hotel AKA Alexandria (625 First Street).
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
City planners also said that lights are also being planned for the school’s soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey/lacrosse fields.
According to the city:
Episcopal High School proposes to install lighting on campus outdoor athletic fields and courts as an accessory congregate recreational facility use to the principal use of the property as a private academic school. A total of 47 light poles are proposed ranging in heights from 40 feet to 100 feet…
Due to the layout of the facilities several poles can provide lighting for multiple fields by having luminaires (fixtures) in different directions, and many poles have luminaires installed at different heights along the length of the pole…
The lighting contractor is Musco Lighting, which specializes in lighting for sports facilities and has completed other projects in the city for the Department of Recreation Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). The plan uses LED luminaires on galvanized steel light poles set on precast concrete bases. The system is designed to comply with the International Dark-Sky Associations (IDA) Community Friendly Outdoor Sports Lighting Program and provide full cutoff lighting that minimizes glare and light spillage onto adjacent properties. The athletic field lights will be connected to a remote facility management system to provide school staff control of the light schedules. Additionally, the applicant has utilized temporary field lighting and requests continued use as part of this SUP until full implementation of permanent improvements.
City Council will consider the matter at its hearing on May 17.
