Officially unveiled: North Hills Christian School celebrates finished construction
Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 15, 2024
North Hills Christian School Executive Director Maria Lowder, third from left, cuts the ribbon during a celebratory ceremony on Monday unveiling the school's completed construction project that will house kindergarten through fourth-grade students. Pictured, from left, Maintenance and Technology Director Matthew Ward; Lower School Principal Kristen Sabia; Lowder; Vertex Construction Superintendent Andrew Blakely; Vertex Construction President David Hartman and North Hills Christian Board Vice Chairman Mark Latva. - Chandler Inions
North Hills Christian School Executive Director Maria, third from left, gives a tour of the new building on Monday. - Chandler Inions
SALISBURY — North Hills Christian School administrators officially unveiled their newest building on Monday. While it represents the end of 18 months of construction, it also represents the culmination of a plan 10 years in the making.
The new building, which is on the North Hills campus, is slated to house its kindergarten through fourth-grade students. The 15,000-square-feet expansion is the largest in school history and enabled a 25-percent increase in the school’s enrollment.
Asked what she was feeling on Monday, North Hills Christian School Executive Director Mariea Lowder said, “excitement.”
“I’m excited that we get to start school with a new building that has been in progress for 18 months,” Lowder continued. “It’s been a dream for 10 years. It has been part of our long-range facility plan for 10 years, so it is great to see it come to life today.”
The addition of the classroom space is 12,000 square feet. Meanwhile, a gymnasium addition the school is completing will add another approximately 3,500 square feet.
“That will bring our total square footage to approximately 70,000 square feet on campus,” Lowder told the Salisbury Post back in January.
On Monday, Lowder said she was encouraged by the prospect of expanded enrollment and that her school can now meet the demands for the increased capacity.
“(It tells me) a lot of families are wanting the mission of what we do here, equipping the hearts and minds of students to impact the world for Christ,” Lowder said. “Lots of families believe in what we do.”
Monday was orientation.
“This building will house kindergarten through fourth grade — 230 students,” Lowder said. “All those families will be coming to see the building today (Monday). We cut the ribbon for them to come in and see the new facility.
“The fun starts today. They will get to see their new classrooms today and meet their new teachers and their new spaces.”
The current construction represents phase three of a seven-phase that began in 2015. It’s not just classroom space that will be expanded, as Lowder explained back in January.
After the completion of all seven phases, North Hills’ capacity will be 1,000 students. The school also purchased three acres across Sells Road, where there are plans to relocate the baseball field to free up space for future construction.
Classes officially began on Wednesday, kicking off the new year for the Eagles.
