Take A Peek At Lamar High School Expansion Construction

HOUSTON, TX — The new addition to Lamar High School will be awe-inspiring when it's complete. Being four stories tall, folks inside it once completed can see a nice panoramic view of the Bayou City, from the sprawling Heights to the north, the Galleria district to the west and chic downtown to the east and south.

The LHS Project Advisory Team members got their first look inside the school’s new four-story addition this week. After checking out a 3-D printed model of the campus on paper, they got the opportunity to walk through the steel structure and up to the fourth floor of the academic wing, where they could view construction progress.

The $129.2 million project, part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program, is now about 40 percent complete. Site pier and pile drilling has been completed, as has steel installation on the first and second floors. Permanent power is scheduled to be connected in the third quarter.

“We put a lot of thought into the design of this building, and I think it’s really coming together,” Lamar Principal James McSwain said. “We tried to incorporate flexibility for the future into every area, so our design will withstand the test of time.”

Concrete is being poured for the third and fourth level slab-on-deck floors. Foundation work on the parking garage and athletics area is underway, as is installation of overhead mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

“Seeing where students will get to experience this new space is really exciting,” Lamar Instructional Specialist Keri-Ann King said. “The juxtaposition of our landmark school next to this modern building is amazing. The old and new are coming together.”

The new building will feature 16 large, flexible academic areas to facilitate the school’s interdisciplinary and project-based learning. It also features a large covered drive for bus and parent drop-off, a black box theater and band instruction area, a large banquet and food preparation space for the school’s culinary program, and other career and technical education spaces.

Among the more unique features of the new facility are retail storefronts for Smart Financial Center and Minuti Coffee. Both companies are working with the school to provide training and employment opportunities for students.

“I think it’s going to be amazing,” said Sarah Thweatt, Lamar PAT member and parent. “It will be a beautiful space to support our new way of learning.”

The existing main building will be renovated and continue to serve as the main entrance to the school. It will house the existing auditorium, an alumni center, a child-care facility for faculty and staff, and a performing arts area.

The new building is expected to be complete and open to students in time for the start of the 2019-2020 school year. Additional site work — including demolition of some existing structures and installation of athletics fields — will follow.

Check out live construction progress here.

Photos via Houston ISD