New High School on Track for Grand Opening

Wilmington’s new high school is nearing completion and students will be filling the halls of the new building late next month.

Wilmington Town Manager Jeffrey Hull gave an update on the high school construction project in the January town newsletter.

Crews are working diligently to have the new high school operational by Feb. 13. Gilbane Construction Company is working on the project, much of which is complete including walkways around the school, except for areas that will access the new parking area off Adams Street. The installation of auditorium seating is nearing completion with aisle carpet and the orchestra pit on target to be completed by mid to late January.

Furniture for the new building will be moved into the classrooms in offices also in mid to late January. The paving of walkways and planting of trees and shrubs, and installation of benches and planters, as well as the installation of the 9/11 Memorial in the courtyard are all complete.

View images and take a look inside the new high school >>>

In the new school’s gymnasium, the flooring for the track will be wrapped up by the end of the first week of January. The gymnasium itself, which through construction has served as a staging area for supplies, will have wood flooring installed during the month of January with the floor’s finish and striping completed by the first week of February.

A grand opening is scheduled for students returning from vacation on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Current plans call for students, staff and honored guests to gather in the current high school and proceed to the front of the new high school. Honored guests will have the opportunity for some brief remarks before students and staff enter their new school to resume their day and open a new chapter in their educational experience, Hull says in the newsletter.

Demolition of the existing school, work on the baseball field, multipurpose field, parking lot, and tennis/basketball courts are expected to be completed by the end of the 2015 calendar year.