WABE goes inside Georgia’s most expensive high school ever
Standing 11 stories high on 56-acres of property, the new North Atlanta High School along Cobb Parkway starts school today. Costing $147 million, the school is Georgia’s most expensive high school to date.
Since the projects approval in April 2012, the school has sparked much controversy. It has cost $50 million more than originally planned, and it has received much criticism concerning the site selection and whether the school board adequately predicted the total price. The school cost Atlanta Public Schools $55.3 million to purchase the 56-acres and another $99.4 million for renovation and construction.
The building once housed an IBM firm built in 1977, but it has since been transformed into a high school with state of the art facilities.
To reach all 11 floors, students will use not only staircases but “destination elevators”. Instead of UP or DOWN buttons, destination elevators use a telephone-style keypad on every floor for students to request a specific level. However, there is one catch. Every student must enter which floor he or she wishes to go to, or the keypads will supply too few elevators for the number of students.
These elevators will open to floors like the ROTC Suite level, the Center for the Arts, an International Studies level, or even the Center for Broadcast Journalism. But the third floor is where students will congregate every day… the Cafeteria and Kitchen.
Containing smoothie, international, and grill stations, the high school’s cafeteria looks similar to a mall food court.
The school has also finished their football field but is still amid construction on their baseball and softball fields.
The high school contains 69 regular classrooms with additional labs, art facilities, and even a rifle range on the ROTC Suite level.
An expected 1,400 students will attend North Atlanta High School this fall.
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