The Lexington School’s New Academic Center Opens on Time
Local Construction Firm Uses Local Talent to Meet First Day of School Deadline
By Beth Pride
After a year of construction, The Lexington School’s brand new, state-of-the-art, 25,000 square foot Academic Center and Learning Center opened its doors ON TIME on August 22 at 7:30 a.m. to almost 600 very excited students and their families.
New Head of School Una MacCarthy and new CFOO Susan O’Brien (both from Lexington) partnered with local construction company Congleton-Hacker to make the opening day of school an on-time reality for TLS families and students ready to come back to school.
It took every waking moment of focused energy after last year yielded record-breaking rain.
“Because of summer rains, we couldn’t officially break ground until August 2018, and this project spans our entire campus, including athletic fields and new Colt House, a new kitchen and servery,” MacCarthy said.
“It is a HUGE project, and Congleton-Hacker, along with local subcontractors from plumbing to flooring to tile – you name it – really committed to making the opening day happen. They did an amazing job and we are really grateful.”
Jim Hacker of Congleton-Hacker said that nearly all subcontractors on the project had local ties as well. Companies such as The Allen Company and Clay Ingels, Wilhite Limited and Blue Sky Electric, to name a few, showed dedication to the project and to the school in their attention to timing and detail. They were crucial to making it all happen.
“I think every subcontractor on the project, between fifteen and twenty of them, are from Lexington, central and south-central Kentucky,” Hacker said.
“Seeing the smiles on the faces of our students seeing the building for the first time is something I’ve looked forward to,” says Geriann Blevins, Director of Admission.“Una and Susan, the development team – everyone who made some real adjustments and concessions and accommodated our every request (like moving out of the kitchen in April). That made a big difference too.”
O’Brien echoed those sentiments, saying, “It took all-hands-on-deck this summer for sure. The contractors worked hard to get us in on time. Our own IT department and grounds crew also worked long hours to make it happen.
“It was a true team effort, and it was clear that every member of the team was personally invested in getting it right.”
On Thursday, Aug. 22, TLS families brought their kids to school, on time, on the day they were planning.
“Seeing the smiles on the faces of our students seeing the building for the first time is something I’ve looked forward to,” says Geriann Blevins, Director of Admission.
This year The Lexington School celebrates a 60th anniversary school year, this time in a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility with a brand-new Head of School.
It may be the ONE School Project, but it has a COMMUNITY feel and impact. The school is grateful for all of the members of the local community who pulled together to beat the weather and bring our students and faculty back “home” to school on time.
Founded in 1959 by Josephine Abercrombie, The Lexington School is an independent day school, enrolling academically promising boys and girls in preschool through eighth grade.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Beth Pride at 859-492-4363 or email bpride@thelexingtonschool.org.