HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (July 26, 2022) – Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) and Henderson County Commissioners will officially celebrate the opening of the new Hendersonville High School campus on August 3 in time for the start of the 2022-2023 traditional school year.
The ribbon cutting is the culmination of a 4-year-long school construction and renovation project that’s been completed 11 months earlier than its original end date. Originally slated for completion in August 2023, the project moved ahead of schedule during 2020 and 2021, when remote learning was in place due to COVID-19 and students were off campus.
A $62 million investment by Henderson County, the new Hendersonville High campus encompasses 82,000 square feet of new and renovated space, including the 115,000-square-foot new Campbell Boyd Building that houses 50 classrooms.
As planned, the project preserved and renovated the historic Stillwell building and auditorium, established a new building with 21st century classroom space, and reworked the campus layout for increased security. It also ultimately included athletic field upgrades corresponding with HCPS’ other three traditional high schools’ fields. As part of the new school, Hendersonville High now has new artificial turf, new rubberized track, and a new press box at Dietz Field.
“The Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce to the taxpayers of Henderson County that work has been successfully completed on the newly renovated and expanded Hendersonville High School. This $60M investment in our community’s education facilities shows the support of past Commissioners and as well as the current Board of Public Education of our young people,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Lapsley. “The previous campus facilities prevailed for over 100 years and we hope that these new facilities will carry on the community’s tradition of excellence in education.”
“As a graduate of Hendersonville High and school board chair, it makes me extremely proud that this newly renovated campus will be here for at least the next 100 years to serve the next generations of Bearcats,” said Blair Craven, Chair of the Henderson County Board of Public Education.
Timeline:
February 2018 – demolition of former Boyd Auto building, for new parking lot
June 11, 2019 – construction of new building begins
January 2020 – demolition begins of old gym, for construction of new auxiliary gym + renovation of Jim Pardue gym
November 2020: new building construction completed
May 2021 – new auxiliary and renovated Jim Pardue gyms completed for Class of 2021 graduation
December 2021 – dedication of new Campbell Boyd Building
February 2022 – renovation of Stillwell auditorium complete
May 2022 – installation of artificial turf begins on Dietz Field
June 2022 – dedication of Thomas E. “Tom” Orr Stage in Stillwell auditorium
August 3, 2022 – ribbon cutting of completed campus
The Aug. 3 celebration will include a ribbon cutting by the Henderson County Board of Public Education and Henderson County Board of Commissioners. A brief walking tour hosted by Principal Bobby Wilkins will follow.
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Media is invited to the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 Bearcat Boulevard, Hendersonville, N.C., taking place in the center courtyard area of the new campus.
