PRINCE FREDERICK, Md.—Construction of the $65 million dollar replacement of Northern High School in Owings is set to begin in spring 2015. The design phase is complete, and the bidding process for construction will open before the end of this year. The phased construction of the 244,090 square foot building will be completed in 2019.
The new school will be built next to the existing building, which will be demolished to make room for a parking area once the new construction is complete. The student capacity will increase from 1,233 to 1,500.
The first phase of the construction of the new building, temporary student parking, geothermal fields and utilities will be completed during the first two and a half years of the project, with students occupying the new facility during the 2017-2018 school year. The second phase of construction will include the demolition of the existing high school, bus and vehicular parking area improvements and site amenities. The last phase will provide a small addition and instructional space improvements for the Mary Harrison Cultural Arts Center.
The new facility will meet the standards for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) silver certification by the United States Green Building Council. Environment-friendly features include bio-retention systems for storm water, water harvesting for irrigation, outdoor environmental study areas, a geothermal system and a reflective roof.