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Episcopal High School of Jacksonville will expand its campus with two new halls, totaling nearly 26,000 square feet, that will provide 12 classrooms and a courtyard between the two buildings.
The project is valued at $4 million, which includes a provision for operational support. Elkins Constructors is the contractor and Richard Skinner is the architect.
“As we approach our 50-year anniversary, we view the addition of these academic halls as our gateway into the next half-century of middle and secondary education leadership in Northeast Florida,” said Dale Regan, Head of School for Episcopal.
Construction began April 21 and should be completed in November. The new halls will house classes for multiple subjects and grades.
“During the design process, we wanted to ensure the halls could integrate both today’s technology and the technology of tomorrow, whatever it may be,” said Regan.
The larger classroom size does not mean more students per class. Episcopal remains committed to its current 18-student class limit.
The halls, which are being funded by contributions from alumni, the community and faculty and staff, will be named for the Lastinger family and Nancy Parks and her late husband, the Rev. Robert Parks. Delores and Allen Lastinger are longtime supporters of the school. She is a former Episcopal teacher and he is former CEO of Barnett Banks. They serve as honorary trustees and have three Episcopal graduates in their family.
The late Rev. Parks, who died in 2009, was a leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida and a founder of the school. He led the creation of the school more than four decades ago.
Episcopal’s main campus sits on 56 acres along the south bank of the St. Johns River off Atlantic Boulevard.