Construction Begins on New Baltimore-Area High School

Baltimore County officials recently gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony for a replacement high school facility in Lansdowne, Md. The new Lansdowne High School comes with an estimated price tag of $156 million and will cover 318,461 square feet, according to local news.

The existing facility is more than 60 years old and faces numerous maintenance issues including lack of wheelchair accessibility, broken water fountains and insufficient air conditioning, local news reports. Once the new school is built, the existing school will be demolished to clear room for athletic fields and other amenities.

The finished product will include three three-story wings connecting to a two-story wing for physical education and fine arts, local news reports. The new facility will have the capacity for 1,759 students.

Funding for the project comes from Baltimore County’s $2.5-billion, 15-year Improvement Plan for All Schools. Various proposals had been made in 2016 and 2017 to renovate or replace the structure, but a $30-million plan renovation plan was put on hold in 2017 when parents made the push for a new building, local news reports.

“When it looked like the reality of a new school might not happen, this community rallied together, found the courage to keep on moving, and never gave up,” said Allison Seymour, Lansdowne High School Principal, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Today, we are here celebrating what this new campus will be, represents to those who live in this community, those who graduated from this school, those who currently attend this school, and those who are to come.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.