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Design team unveils three‑phase plan for East Henderson High and seeks state needs‑based grant
Summary
Architects with LS3P presented a multi‑phase campus revitalization for East Henderson High—moving utilities to Building G, replacing aging classroom buildings with a 60,000 sq ft academic structure and modernizing CTE and science labs—to underpin a needs‑based grant application to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
A team from LS3P presented a multi‑phase vision on Tuesday for East Henderson High School that they and district officials said is designed to match North Carolina’s needs‑based capital grant priorities.
"The first phase is really focused on setting our building up from an infrastructure standpoint to continue to operate and to be modernized as we get through to the end of the project," architect Emily Kite explained, describing a plan to relocate mechanical and utility services into Building G to enable later demolition and replacement of older buildings.
Phase two would demolish Buildings B and C — aging classroom blocks from the late 1950s — and construct a new two‑story academic building of roughly 60,000 square feet to house core academics, guidance and administration. Phase three would replace other older buildings, relocate the cafeteria and media center, enlarge CTE labs and create enclosed circulation so students would not need to walk outside between classes.
"This gives us an opportunity to have really clear lines of sight and circulation…everything on this campus would be enclosed circulation so you could navigate your way through everything inside the building," LS3P’s Maggie Carnival said, noting the plan’s emphasis on science lab modernization and CTE pathways that DPI favors.
District staff said the concept will form the narrative for an application to DPI’s needs‑based grant program. The presenters noted funding and match levels will depend on the state budget and grant cycle; they referenced past awards in the region and said a comparable project in prior cycles fit within available grant parameters.
Board members asked about project readiness, student movement during construction and local match obligations. LS3P recommended early engineering consultation and engaging a construction manager to refine phasing and summer work windows to minimize classroom disruption.
The board agreed to request a formal letter of support and to coordinate signatures with the county commissioners if needed. LS3P said they would share presentation materials and a draft grant narrative with the district.
Why it matters: East Henderson serves a wide student population and includes aging facilities; the proposed project targets safety, curriculum‑aligned STEM and CTE upgrades and campus accessibility while leaning on state grant support to cover major costs.
What’s next: Staff will prepare a formal application package, seek letters of support from local legislators and coordinate county sign‑offs required by the DPI grant rules.
