MCEDP

While Pinehurst Elementary just had the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction already underway on their new campus, the new Aberdeen Elementary on NC Highway 5 is almost ready to open.  Local county and town officials recently toured the new school with members of the school board.

Scheduled to open this fall for the 2020-2021 school year, the new, modern public school on 22 acres has capacity for 800 students grades K-5 and replaces both Aberdeen Primary and the existing Aberdeen Elementary.  This will be the second new elementary school to open in Moore County.  The new McDeeds Creek Elementary just opened last fall for the 2019-2020 school year.

The new Aberdeen Elementary was designed with long-term cost savings features built-in, such as LED light fixtures and a geothermal system to heat and cool the school.  The roof is designed to accommodate solar panels, a potential future investment.

Safety features are also evident, beginning with the outermost doors which are controlled electronically. The main lobby leads to a second set of locked doors and the school office. Staff will have electronic key fobs to control their access, and cameras are positioned to monitor activity around campus.

The school is anchored by a full-sized gymnasium that will double as an auditorium. A ramp to the gym stage connects also to an adjacent music room. The gym, like the main hallways, features a soaring ceiling supported by exposed wooden trusses.

Other shared educational spaces include a cafeteria, media center, art room with a kiln installed in an alcove, a robotics room, and two project rooms that can be converted to classrooms if needed. Each classroom contains a sink and storage closet.

Fourth and fifth grade hallway opens to a wide collaborative space where students can work together or independently on projects, outside of their classrooms.

Throughout the school, bright splashes of school colors add a fun visual element. Some of the architectural details also reflect the Town of Aberdeen’s history and commerce, particularly the timber trade and importance of the railroad.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Aberdeen Mayor Robbie Farrell. “I think the parents of children that come here will be pleased.”  The entrance road to the school has been named Farrell Parkway in his honor.

“This school will be here for a long time. I expect great things to come from Aberdeen Elementary,” Farrell added.

 (Original story by Laura Douglass, The Pilot.  Photo courtesy of The Pilot.)