South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters. The district partnered with Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) for design services and with Contract Construction for general contracting services.

Improvements to the campus will include a secure and clearly defined main entrance to the school, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems, and flexible classrooms with natural light. The new design will also include centralized administrative areas and dedicated spaces for the school’s athletics, performing arts, and exploratory learning programs, as well as outdoor learning areas.

The campus was originally built in 1954 and is facing issues related to aging infrastructure and outdated systems. An addition in 2010 modernized a portion of the campus, but the rest had previously remained stagnant.

“We have a great amount of needs in the community,” said Dr. Corey Murphy, district superintendent, in a local news story. “And the fact that we’re able to actually provide these needs and give them a cost-effective product as well as premier learning spaces is fun.”

Local news reports that the renovation of North Augusta Middle School is part of a larger construction push across the district, including work at Midland Valley, South Aiken, and Silver Bluff High Schools.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • North Carolina District Completes New Elementary School

    The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in Holly Springs, N.C., recently announced that construction on a new elementary school has finished, according to a news release. Rex Road Elementary School measures in at 133,000 square feet and is the fifteenth school that general contractor Balfour Beatty has completed for the district.

  • Kimball International Releases Curated Design Support Program

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of a new end-to-end design support program, DesignSuite. According to a news release, its goal is to guide architecture & design professionals and dealer partners through the process from vision to specification.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.