Limestone County outlines $23,000 sq ft addition and campus renovations at East Limestone High School
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Summary
Architects presented plans for a 23,000-square-foot addition and broad campus renovations at East Limestone High School, including a multipurpose room that will double as a storm shelter, new parking and major utility upgrades; bids are expected in April with completion targeted in 2027.
Limestone County Board of Education architects and staff on Monday presented detailed plans for renovations and a 23,000-square-foot addition at East Limestone High School intended to modernize classrooms, add parking and create flexible assembly space.
Sewell McKee of Latham McKee Architects told the board the project would repave much of the campus, add roughly 50 parking spaces and connect a new multipurpose building to the existing school. “So we’re gonna touch close to about 80,000 square feet of buildings up on this campus,” McKee said, describing the combined scope of additions and renovations.
The addition’s multipurpose room will include a portable stage and serve as a storm shelter, seating about 400–420 people in a lecture configuration and roughly 250 for banquets. McKee said the project also includes cafeteria serving-line upgrades, a new secure front-office vestibule and a renovated science lab. “All of your classrooms are gonna get new ceilings, new lights, new storage, new marker boards, new tack boards, new doors,” McKee said.
The architect laid out a preliminary schedule: the board would publish bid documents and receive bids in April, with a hoped-for award at the April board meeting and construction starting in May. “Timeline completion as we sit now, we’re prepared to get bids on this project in April, start our contractor in the month of May,” McKee said, adding that some renovations would be completed during successive summers and the program is expected to finish in 2027.
McKee also outlined infrastructure work tied to the addition, saying crews will consolidate multiple overhead utilities, install a new pad-mounted transformer and relocate several water lines underground. He told the board the greenhouse area would not be impacted by the work.
Superintendent Randy Sherrell opened the segment by congratulating and recognizing the East Limestone Lady Indians bowling team, which finished as the 1A–5A state runner-up in 2026, and presented certificates to team members and coach Michelle Bolander before the facilities presentation.
Board members asked about alternate classroom bids, traffic and utility coordination; McKee answered site-specific questions about classroom placement and power feed plans. The project’s utility and construction schedule depends on coordinated bids and utility-company work, the architect said.
The board did not take a construction award at the meeting; the architect said the board could expect bid results and a possible contract award at the board’s April meeting.
