Stillwater cuts ribbon on new $78 million high school

Stillwater Public Schools cut the ribbon Thursday on a new high school building, completing the centerpiece of a $195 million bond that Stillwater voters approved overwhelmingly in February 2023 and producing what its architect described as the first completely new Oklahoma high school designed after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony was held in front of the 188,000-square-foot building, drawing district administrators, Board of Education members, city and county officials, state legislators, architects and construction managers. Students begin classes August 13.

Superintendent Tyler Bridges said the facility — budgeted at $78 million in district bond planning documents — includes 68 instructional spaces, a fine arts wing, science labs, family and consumer science classrooms, art rooms, a library, and a significant increase in the number of bathrooms over the previous building.

"This facility would not be possible without the trust, the support and the investment from our voters who approved the bond issue overwhelmingly," Bridges said.

The new building is not the bond program's final chapter. A $22.5 million athletics complex is now under construction at the site of the old campus, replacing the 1959 City Gym and the West Gym with a 40,600-square-foot facility that will house a full-court gymnasium, expanded weight room, football locker rooms, and a wrestling facility.

Planning for the new high school began in 2021 and drew on years of input from teachers, staff, students, administrators, architects and construction professionals, Bridges said. He credited that depth of collaboration with helping the district avoid design problems other districts have encountered.

Board of Education President Dr. Gay Washington said the process drew hundreds of hours of stakeholder input, including City of Stillwater representatives.

"There were hundreds and hundreds of hours spent bringing together stakeholders to share their ideas and visions of excellence," Washington said.

Brian Thomas, the principal architect at 505 Architects, said the building was designed to connect Stillwater's past to its future. Brick on the northwest side references the district's history, he said, while the east-west orientation carries a more contemporary character. The two converge at a central student commons Thomas described as the building's "living room."

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A cornerstone on the southwest corner of the building marks 1898, the year Stillwater's public schools were founded, alongside the year the new building opened. Thomas also pointed to an outdoor bocce ball court — added after a student mentioned the game during a planning meeting — as an example of how closely the design team tracked stakeholder input throughout the process.

Shawn Vick, project manager for Willowbrook Construction, said most of his team has personal ties to the district. Vick graduated from Stillwater High School in 2012.

"We're building something for our neighbors, our friends, and our families for years to come," Vick said.

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Bo Gamble credited the district staff who drove the project forward, including Director of Facilities Rob Lamecker, technology project and resource specialist Charlie Krajacic, Director of Technology Emily Harris and Operations Administrative Assistant Annette Turley.

Bridges also credited former Superintendent and the longest-serving principal in SHS history, Uwe Gordon with helping pass the bond and launching the early planning work.

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Washington acknowledged the weight of leaving the old campus behind. The building that housed Stillwater High School for more than six decades was known as C.E. Donart High School from its dedication in 1960 — named for the district's longtime board clerk — until the school reclaimed its original name in 1982.

"As exciting as it is to move forward, we acknowledge the wonderful memories made during the six decades," Washington said. "These memories are not forgotten, but they lay a foundation for new adventures and learning experiences."

The Stillwater Public Education Foundation will hold its annual Celebration of Education fundraiser at the new building Aug. 6, giving community members their first chance to tour the completed facility. Doors open at 6 p.m. Information is available at spef.stillwaterschools.com.

The district will also hold a community open house 10-12 p.m. Aug. 7.