A year after a fire tore through a high school in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, officials have unveiled a plan to renovate the campus.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Elizabeth Forward district is looking at a $27 million plan to upgrade much of Elizabeth Forward High School.
The renovation will result in several new spaces--an auditorium, a band and choral room, a main entrance, a lobby, gymnasium and locker rooms. Upgrades to the electrical and HVAC systems are also planned.
The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2026.
A four-alarm fire on Feb. 12, 2023, caused significant damage to the campus. The fire was contained to the auditorium and stage; the lobby, the music wing and several hallways leading to the media center had water damage. Smoke damage affected the entire building.
After the fire, students were forced into online learning until April. Rooms and areas adjacent to the auditorium were walled off so they could not be accessed.
The new auditorium will hold close to 1,000 people; the old auditorium had capacity for 725.
The gymnasium will be constructed where the existing auditorium sits. It will be connected to the school’s new main entrance and lobby, which will have improved security systems such as a secure vestibule and automated systems for checking IDs.
Construction is expected to start in May.
