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Contractor: New Halifax County High School near completion as interior work, testing and utilities continue
Summary
A contractor update at the Halifax County School Board meeting outlined interior finishes, mechanical commissioning, window and water‑resistance testing, and remaining site work as the district prepares to open the new high school next school year.
Project construction and systems testing for the new Halifax County High School are advancing, with the building expected to be energized and several interior trades finishing work in the coming weeks, the contractor told the school board.
The update matters because the new building will house career and technical spaces alongside core academic classrooms and its completion affects the district’s schedule for commissioning, furniture procurement and demolition of the old building.
At the meeting, project representative Mister Barrasca, the contractor’s on-site superintendent, described recent and planned work: temporary heating is in place; permanent electrical service from Dominion is scheduled to energize the building by the end of the month; ductwork and copper refrigeration lines are being installed and insulated; and a duct air‑leakage test program and window water‑resistance testing are set to start later this month. "The building will be energized by the end of this month," Mister Barrasca said, noting the work on mechanical rooftop units, insulation and the glass curtain wall.
Barrasca also reported exterior and site progress: metal panel siding and brick installation are ongoing, loading-dock footers have been poured, the grease trap and propane tank pad are installed and bollards are in place. Elevator pits and shafts have been prepped for elevator installation, and a cooling tower was set and is being plumbed. He showed photos of classroom wings, an auto lab with overhead coiling doors installed, and initial paint coats in locker rooms.
Inside the building, Barrasca said crews have applied a first coat of paint in some areas, started ceramic tile deliveries, and are completing the main staircase and gym handrails. Low‑voltage security wiring and final inspections on interior wall work were listed as upcoming items. He said the project team will finalize student cafeteria furniture orders and interior graphics, and that an asbestos survey of the existing school is needed before demolition bids can be solicited.
Barrasca described quality control steps: an independent third‑party will perform window water‑resistance testing by simulating heavy spray to check for leaks. He also reported that the contractor is installing a French drain at the baseball outfield, correcting wiring to athletic fields, and cleaning inlet and gutter protection to reduce localized flooding risks.
Board members asked no substantive questions during the update. Barrasca closed by reiterating near‑term milestones: completion of mechanical commissioning once power is available, delivery and installation of auditorium seating, and pending procurement of student and cafeteria furniture.
The district’s timeline and the contractor’s list of imminent inspections and finishing tasks are the last publicly reported steps before occupancy and the start of demolition of the existing school building.
