The developers of the new Baldragon Academy believe they can create an “inspirational teaching environment” for up to 1,100 pupils.
Robertson Construction and Amber Blue have drawn up plans for the replacement of the existing building, which has suffered serious maintenance problems.
The project will cost £27 million, with the city council spending £10.6m and the Scottish Futures Trust picking up the rest of the bill.
The secondary school, earmarked to open in 2016, will be part of a three-tier shared campus including the relocated Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School.
In their planning application, the companies said they considered the needs and aspirations of Baldragon Academy and worked to mitigate the issues that affect its present home.
“The proposals for Baldragon have the potential to deliver an outstanding educational building in the west of Dundee,” they said.
The design they have come up with will see classrooms and other teaching spaces arranged around a central social area that will form the heart of the school.
There will be a large central light well, allowing sunlight to penetrate deep into the main three-storey teaching block, which will have a two-storey sports block attached.
The arrangement of the classrooms has been worked out with the help of council education department to minimise travelling for pupils between classes and work in harmony with the school timetable.
A double-height entrance is planned to create a welcoming space for visitors.
There will be an open-plan, multi-level social, dining and assembly space along with a “feature staircase” based on designs now popular on the Continent, which will double up to provide seating during lunch or performances.
On the first floor will be a snack kitchen serving a coffee-bar style eating area.
Robertson and Amber Blue said their aim was the create a school that was an exciting and dynamic environment in which to learn and teach that would allow Baldragon to grow and adapt to future teaching methods.
Externally, they propose to keep pupils and other pedestrians away from traffic, with all vehicles entering the site from a new entrance off Harestane Road.