Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Look inside the new Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama

Alabaster Alabama, population app. 34,000, is both a city and a southern suburb of sprawling Birmingham, Alabama.

It also could be the destination city for any school board interested in planning, expanding, designing or experiencing an $88 million state-of-the-art high school campus.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Field of dreams

In May of 2014 the school board authorized the purchase of 300+acres for the new Thompson High School complex.

Planned for a 2000-2200 student capacity the new school is conveniently located within a mile of the existing high school which was built in 1986 for a maximum of 800 students but now serves nearly 1900.

The new complex located between Thompson Road and Kent Dairy Road feels set apart in a field of dreams.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Rotunda

The main entrance rotunda soars over two stories and includes an oculus, beautiful terrazzo floors embedded with the school logo and an interior veranda.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

It is an amazing campus but the primary focus of the plan was to meet the needs of students.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Wayne Vickers, Superintendent of Alabaster City Schools has made it his mission to help each student find a connection here, some area of study that they can "fall in love with." The aim is for the student to finish school with a purpose and a plan for the future.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Wide hallways - bold design

Inside there are wide corridors with no 90 degree corners where hallways meet.

Outside there are 1790 parking spaces.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Wide stairways

Throughout the main building six wide staircases are strategically located for traffic flow and there is a two story gathering area (really a very large hallway) that is furnished to allow for a bit of comfortable collaborating.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Innovation Center

The large library/media center which is more aptly named the Innovation Center, where there are charging outlets on the tables.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Four years in the works

Two years of planning, two years of construction time and almost $88 million dollars have been invested in creating this campus. $68 million has been devoted to the academic areas and $20 million dollars is the cost of the athletic facilities.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Special needs/Career Academy & Art

Special needs students have a central hallway also near the cafeteria. Attention will be given to creating a "home-like" environment for their personal, learning, occupational and physical therapy needs.

In total, over 32,000 square feet of space are dedicated to the Career Academy including engineering, health sciences and other advanced areas. Part of the nursing/health sciences teaching area will be set up to mimic the interior of an ambulance, the interior of a hospital waiting area and a patient room

Training in broadcast journalism is yet another career education possibility. Students will have video editing capability in the new TV newsroom/ studio space.

The art department, complete with two kilns will be ready to stimulate creativity in all aspects of the arts.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Hallway ceiling design with skylights

The firm of McKee and Associates of Montgomery, AL developed the architectural plans for this educational project. Every detail is planned with precision and respect for students/faculty input.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

One of many collaborative areas at the new Thompson High School.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Food court kitchen

Students must eat so the new food court kitchen offers many choices

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

The kitchen offers multiple choices at the new Thompson High School.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Cafeteria

The new lunchroom will seat 625 in style.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Many of the eating areas will include charging stations on the tables for electronics.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Cafeteria mural

Team colors of red, black and white are incorporated into flooring, seating, exposed duct work and wall murals.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

1921 Warrior Parkway

The address for the new Thompson High School is 1921 Warrior Parkway. The very first high school for Alabaster was built in 1921 and the school teams are all "warriors."

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Secure storm shelters

Three different instructional areas were built to also function as tornado shelters. Faculty and students will either already be in a storm shelter or can get to one quickly.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Classrooms

There are 103 classrooms.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Labs

21 of which are fully equipped as science labs.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Some classrooms can also serve as lab at new Thompson High School.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

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Athletic facilities

Finished indoor athletic areas include an auxiliary gym for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and Junior ROTC training as well as cheerleading practice. It will have bleacher seating for 500.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Not yet complete are the 5,500 seat football stadium, soccer, softball and baseball fields, tracks, field houses and the competition gym which will seat 2500. There is plenty of room for a third gym if needed

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Lobby with trophy cases outside auxiliary gymnasium at new Thompson High School.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Outside enclosed courtyard

Built around a large courtyard/green space the 384,000 square foot facility offers expansive views from hundreds of interior and exterior over-sized windows and glass walls.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Auditorium/theater

The performing arts are another priority with an enormous stage, orchestra pit and 1070 seat auditorium/theater.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Many civic centers would envy the facilities here.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Band room

The band room is larger than many school gyms and the choral department will enjoy its new expansive amenities.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Lockers for instruments in band room of new Thompson High School.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

Building a new high school has become a competitive endeavor. City leaders and school board members realize the power of attracting families into a community where the educational needs of students is of upmost priority. The opportunities that are available at the new Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama will certainly be a factor in increasing the continued growth of the area.

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Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com

There is still a lot of work to be done but final touches and major cleaning are underway to move students in as soon as possible. Watch for an open house as soon as state inspectors certify the building for occupancy. An exact date for an open house has not been set but pay attention to the news as you will certainly want to take a look at this amazing new Thompson High School.

It might just make you wish that you could go back and do high school all over again. In a beautiful place like this it would be an amazing experience.

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