Campus Reconstruction

Through 2021, Hillsboro’s 28-acre campus will be completely transformed by new construction and a “gut renovation” of the 1954 Edwin Keeble-designed main building. Construction updates will be posted here as we get them.

Read updates from the MNPS Planning and Construction Team here

Click here to view construction photo gallery.

Campus construction – summer 2021 (8/4/2021)

Principal Pelham has some updates on construction and our campus:

The one question I have been asked more than any other over the past couple of years is “So, when are you going to be done with your construction?”  What a great question!  The answer is always a little complicated because this project is in four Phases.  I want to take a moment to share what each phase is and where we are:

Phase 1:  This was tearing down some of the existing old campus and building the new three story tower that includes the cafeteria, library, small gym, and classrooms.  This has been completed for almost two years.

Phase 2:  This was renovating the existing wing that faces Hillsboro Rd. (1953 construction).  This work was completed in the summer of 2020.  Phases 1 and 2 represent all the instructional space on campus.  There are still a few minor issues to complete (mostly cosmetic or items not really noticeable). 

Phase 3:  Represents exterior work and has focused primarily on parking (the new garage), athletic fields, and landscaping.  This work will largely be wrapping up the week of August 9, 2021.  The parking garage will be ready for use, the new stadium will be ready for football and soccer (we will stay off of it as much as possible for the next few weeks to help grass develop better), and the artificial turf multi-use field that is located above the parking garage will be available for practice and student use.  Final paving should be complete for most of the campus.  Work will continue on the spring sports fields (baseball and softball) as well as tennis courts through the fall and winter.  Those fields and courts will be ready by the start of spring seasons.  Landscaping will continue through late fall as shrubs and trees should be planted when they are dormant. 

Phase 4:  This is taking place across the front of the school along Hillsboro Rd.  This represents a joint effort with Hillsboro High School, Metro Public Works, and WeGo transportation.  This includes regrading and setting drainage patterns for the front of the school, parking, utilities work, new large sidewalks, and bus shelters.  This will continue through the fall and should be completed by the end of December.  This means that parking directly in front of the main entrance will not be possible, although the main entrance will be accessible to foot traffic coming off the north bus loop area.

To sum things up, we are ready for students!  We will host home games in all sports this year (although fall sports have had to practice all summer off campus).  We have sufficient parking available for students and staff.  We will begin running school tours this fall after Labor Day and expect to have a schedule published for this very soon (assuming we have no changes due to public health).  I want to close by thanking all our students and parents who have had to endure to discomfort of construction, and who have waited patiently to return to this beautiful campus! 

June 2020 Construction Update from Dr. Pelham (6/29/2020)

If you’ve driven by campus lately, you have probably seen a lot of changes since we departed school in mid-March. As we wrap up Phase 2 of the 3-Phase project, here’s a detailed construction update.

To recap, Phase 1 was completed in August of 2019 and included the new classroom tower, cafeteria and library.

Phase 2 is wrapping up this summer and is on schedule. It includes renovation of the 1953 wing that faces Hillsboro Road and work near the main office (six more classrooms, additional office space and a new elevator). The renovated wing will include 40classrooms, three Academy office complexes and our new Performing and Visual Arts facilities: a fully renovated auditorium, and new band room, orchestra room, theater classrooms, visual arts classrooms and rehearsal rooms.

Most of the Phase 2 classrooms and offices are 90% complete, with mostly finish and touch up work remaining along with installing furniture (which began last week), installing projectors and technology, and coding and syncing of alarm systems. We fully expect to have these spaces ready for occupation and use when teachers return on July 30.

Phase 3 is underway and is expected to wrap up in April of 2021. It includes our athletic fields, parking, landscaping and the remaining half of the bridge connecting the classroom tower to the multi-purpose field above the parking deck. Drainage, new front steps and grading are also being completed along the front of the school.

On the back side of the campus, the Annex building, tennis courts and recycling center have been demolished. Construction offices have moved to the old softball field, which is being used as a staging area for supplies while the football field is being re-graded and reconstructed.

The new bus loop will have buses enter from Richard Jones Road, circle around in the front of the school near the Donut Den, and then exit back onto Richard Jones Road.

While we are regaining a significant amount of classroom and office space for next year, parking will be VERY tight. Traffic patterns will shift again for the fall.  When we have finalized the patterns with the transportation office and school resource officers, we will communicate this information.

Recycling and Goodwill donation centers have been relocated to the front of the school on Hillsboro Road. In late July, they will be relocated to another temporary location. The Goodwill donation center has suspended operations for the summer, and Goodwill will announce when they are ready to re-open.

More About Dropping Off, Picking Up, and Parking (8/4/2019)

The following changes (download a map here) will be in place for the entire school year:

– Construction entrance is now the Richard Jones Road entrance. This entrance and the southern end of our campus is now off-limits to all students, staff, and visitors.
– All car rider traffic must enter off of the new Glen Echo Road entrance. Car riders will drive a loop around the Annex building and exit back on to Glen Echo Road. There will be no left turns on exit, only straight onto Benham Road or right turn onto Glen Echo Road.
– Car riders may only be dropped off or picked up in areas on the loop that have sidewalk. No drop off or pickup is allowed adjacent to fences or areas with guard rails. This is a safety issue and will be strictly enforced.
– Students who drive to school must also enter at the Glen Echo Road entrance. Students will park in the large lot immediately on the north side of the campus after turning in the Glen Echo Road entrance. When this lot fills, students may park in the tennis courts parking lot further down the car rider loop. Students are only allowed to park in the designated parking lots. The spaces adjacent to the Annex building are reserved for faculty and staff.
MNPS yellow buses will continue to enter, drop off/pick up, and exit on the loop on the front of the school from the Hillsboro Road southern entrance.
– The lot in the front of the school in the loop is now staff parking only. No students or car riders should enter the school from this entrance.
– The area next to the new front entrance by the gym at the traffic light is employee parking only.
– We have a new loop on the north side of the campus that is accessed at the light off of Hillsboro Road for accessible buses with specialized ramps for wheelchairs, and for parents of students who have accessibility needs. This area is not for general pickup and drop off, but only for accessible buses and parents of students with accessibility needs.
– Staff will be stationed around campus to assist with traffic. Please follow their directions.

These changes are expected to create significant backups and delays for everyone. We strongly encourage families to explore other options for getting to school other than driving a car onto campus. Other options to consider include: MNPS school bus, MTA bus, carpooling, and/or dropping off a block away and walking. We ask that, when considering alternate plans, be respectful of our neighbors and area businesses.BOUT

The Question on Everyone’s Mind: Will the New Building Be Ready? (7/16/2019)

The answer is yes! It may not look like it (especially from Hillsboro Road), but phase 1 of our campus reconstruction project is right on schedule. Some of the final touches may not be in place, but the new building and front office addition will be ready for the start of school Monday, August 5. Even several weeks ago, when the photos below were taken, many areas, including the media center, cafeteria, and small gym, were move-in ready.

More pictures here.

If you can’t wait to see the new space in person, preview tours led by MNPS project manager Derek Howard are still available to parents. Tours are being given this week on Wednesday, July 17, from 4:30-5:30 PM, and Thursday, July 18, from 8-9 AM. Only six spaces are available per tour and you must sign up in advance here! (Note: Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required!)