Whitley Road Elementary Rebuild

  • Rendering of design of new WRES entry

    Status: Under Construction
    Project Budget: $32,100,230

    Scheduled Completion Date: Summer 2023 

    Whitley Road Elementary School was originally built in 1985. This Bond 2019 project calls for the complete replacement of the campus on the existing campus site. Due to limited space on the existing property, the new building will be completed in multiple phases and moves. After the completion of the new building, the old campus will be demolished. 

    April 2023 Update: 
    Aerial view of WRES construction.Aerial view of WRES construction.Internal view of construction at WRES.Internal view of WRES construction.


    February 2022 Update: 
    Aerial view of the progress at WRES as of February 2023

    With the campus occupied for the 2022-23 school year and demolition complete on the former building, work continues on construction of additional classroom spaces on the south side of the new campus. That construction is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023. 

    Collaboration space within WRES View form atop the new WRES library Collaboration space within the new WRES campus


    July 2022 Update
    Aerial view of WRES construction in July 2022

    During the spring months, the front administration area and two-story classroom area had the exterior of the building built,  and the interior of the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were installed. This summer, the contractor has begun removing the existing building, while they continue to finish out the front administration area and classroom spaces. The remaining kitchen, cafeteria, and gymnasium areas will be built this school year. 

    View of administrative area under construction at WRES View inside a bathroom under construction at WRES

    View of a classroom under construction at WRES View of the new WRES with demo taking place on the old building

    View of an teacher work space under construction at the new WRES View of a workspace at the new WRES


    March 2022 Update
    Aerial view of WRES progress in March 2022

    The project was bid in multiple phases. Due to unprecedented market conditions, the project team aggressively bid the site work, concrete, and steel portions of the project in January 2021 and requested that the Board of Trustees approve that portion of the project cost at the January 25, 2021, Regular Board Meeting. The remainder of the project was bid in February 2021 and was submitted to the Board for approval at the February 22, 2021, Regular Meeting. The contractor mobilized on the property in March 2021. The grading permit was received from the City of Watauga in the last week of March 2021, and the full building permit was released in April 2021. The City of Watauga staff have provided a great deal of assistance in coordinating bus staging locations for the school’s bus pick-up and drop-off activities throughout the project. The contractor began drilling piers and forming the grade beams for the foundation of the new two-story classroom area of the building in June 2021.The contractor began working on the reinforced concrete wall structure for the storm shelter portion of the new building in July 2021. Steel material began being delivered early in the fall of 2021, and in the months of October and November 2021, the two-story classroom structure was erected. The last several months, the two-story classroom area, administrative areas, and main entrance have been enclosed and roofed. All interior walls have been built in the two-story storm shelter portion of the building, and all interior walls and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-in has been completed in the front administrative office area of the building.

    Exterior of the construction of the new WRES admin area Exterior of the construction of the WRES two-story classroom wing
    Interior of WRES construction showing a hallway in the storm-safe area Interior hallway construction at WRES


    Rendering of the new WRES from an aerial perspective  Rendering of the new WRES entry
    Rendering of the entry to the new WRES  Rendering of the courtyard at the new WRES