The final touches are being made on the expansion of Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus.
After two years of construction, a certificate of occupancy was issued for the five-story, $174 million building last month. Alexandria City Public Schools is on track to welcome students to the new facility in August.
Mayor Justin Wilson recently toured the site and shared a gallery of photos on his Twitter and Facebook pages. We included the photos in a gallery above.
“It is an impressive facility that will benefit our entire community,” Wilson wrote.
The school, when completed, will have a capacity of 1,600 students, which is roughly doubled in its capacity, will feature an aquatics facility and expanded career and technical education (CTE) lab spaces for “potential new offerings in game design/development, robotics, emergency medical sciences, cyber security, (and) firefighting,” according to ACPS.
The latest official construction update from ACPS is below.
Construction activities are ongoing in all areas, which include various tasks such as installing concrete sidewalks, laying pavers, applying asphalt, constructing bioretention ponds, planting greenery, installing lighting fixtures, erecting fencing, setting up playground equipment, and applying playground surfacing. These efforts are progressing according to schedule and are anticipated to be finalized by April.
Façade enhancement work, including steel painting, coping and canopy installation, finish metal panels, greenhouse glass fitting, exterior lighting, and soffit installation, will be completed as weather permits.
April will see the removal of any unnecessary construction equipment or debris. Interior spaces are undergoing final touches, including painting, flooring installation, base and wall protection, millwork, locker installation, door fitting, and hardware placement. Final cleaning has commenced and will be finished by April.
The pool has been filled, with final inspections slated for April. Furniture installation permits have been secured for all areas. Work will continue on Saturdays and during extended shifts, approved by the city from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, adhering to noise ordinances. This extended work period is approved until Apr. 15, 2024. The temporary certificate of occupancy was issued Apr. 5, 2024.
The project remains on track for completion within contractual obligations. Relocation activities are scheduled to commence in June 2024, involving moves from the existing Minnie Howard facility and adjacent campus locations. Planning for Phase 2 is underway, with submittals initiated and a tentative start date set for June 2024.