Durham Public Schools broke ground for the new campus of Durham School of the Arts on Friday morning.
Under a rainbow balloon arch against an overcast sky, the district superintendent, the Durham School of the Arts principal, and county officials — among others — celebrated the new construction.
“This new space will allow student engagement in ways that have not been possible with the limitations in the existing building,” said Superintendent Anthony Lewis. “From state-of-the-art classrooms to creative studios and performance spaces, the new school of the arts will be a place where innovation and imagination can thrive.”
Building the new campus sparked controversy this past year due to its $256 million price tag and advocates’ allegiance to the current downtown location, which some argued holds emotional and historical significance.
The fact that DSA will be the most expensive public middle or high school ever built in North Carolina was not mentioned Friday. Instead, with Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and orange juice in hand, the audience heard speeches focused on the possibilities of the new campus and the work that led to the groundbreaking.
Construction is now underway.
Above: Superintendent Anthony Lewis speaks at the groundbreaking for the new Durham School of the Arts. Photo by Abigail Bromberger — The 9th Street Journal
