Ahh, ACC… the home of an impressive Project-Based Learning Empire. As we say our final goodbyes to this ancient bomb shelter of a building, and as the many critters and creepy crawlies populate the tight crevices of the internal structure, I find it necessary to highlight some of the strangest elements of the building. From the rustic, yet smooth surfaces of the walls, to the strangely unhygienic nature of the trailers, to the liminality of the architecture overall. Some of which are better known than others, and I’m sure you shan’t be disappointed. So, please enjoy this deep dive into the idiosyncrasies of ACC… wait, what does that word even mean? Well, the word “idiosyncrasy” is a noun that defines things with weird habits or features, not unlike the topics we’ll be covering in this article. 

As we begin our journey through the school’s boundaries, there are holes in the bottoms of the trailers and in the roof of one of the overhangs. With exposed wires dangling down, pipeage in broad daylight, and the metal holding up the trailers on display, there’s nothing stopping anyone from crawling underneath. On the topic of crawling, within the weirdly off-color tiles of the boy’s bathroom, a former crawlspace up to the air ducts used to be open, one accessed by stepping on the sink and crawling up. Otherwise, amidst the building’s sleek white coat of paint, lie many stairwells with a strange, yellowish-orange coating of paint. The reason for this stark color contrast remains unknown. Equally mysterious is the actual water well on the ground floor. Why is this well there? What does it lead to, and who even installed it? The answers remain as clear as the photo taken of it.

Heading through the building, it becomes apparent that there is a grand amount of strange areas and unnecessary elements throughout the structure of the school. Spaces on overhangs, strange pillars, missing floor tiles, and seemingly randomly placed windows. It makes both you and me wonder what the builders were even thinking when they installed these elements! But one thing remains all the same, our spirit and love for this deteriorating mess of a school building. Lastly, as the Career Center’s run of 53 years comes to a resounding close, it and all of its weird little features will live forever in our hearts.

Thank you, Arlington Career Center. Thanks to you and all of your strange bits and bobs that made our school years a vibrant and beautiful time. We’ll miss you.