150 Blue Flame DrivePickens, South Carolina 29671

phs.pickens.k12.sc.us

SDPC Building Futures High School

Pickens

School District of Pickens County

A Dream RealizedHenry H. Hunt, Ph.D., Superintendent

Excellence Has a New Address

Marion Lawson, Principal

In November 2006, the SDPC Board of Trustees approved Building Futures – a $315 million facilities plan – and implemented an installment purchase plan to fund the construction.

Five new schools were planned as the flagship projects: a new Pickens High School, new high schools for Daniel, Easley and Liberty,

and a state-of-the-art technology and career center. Each high school would have all-inclusive fine arts and athletic facilities onsite.

The existing Easley, Liberty and Pickens high schools would be renovated to middle schools. Renovations at Edwards and Dacusville middle schools would expand the schools. As the plan moved forward, a decision was made to create a second middle school in Easley. Gettys Middle would also be renovated.

Although a new primary school was envisioned for the Liberty area, the community supported a second elementary school. Chastain Road, the sixth new school, was planned. At all other elementary schools, renovations would include new safety and security features as well as technology upgrades. Portables would be eliminated. Then, environmental issues and other factors changed the plan for Dacusville Elementary. A new school – the seventh new school – would be built on district property adjacent to Dacusville Middle.

Changes made to the Building Futures plan brought the budget to $374 million. Throughout the program, however, the goal has remained constant: invest in our students, our communities and our future by providing equal instructional opportunities and learning environments throughout Pickens County.

September 25, 2011, was a memorable day in the history of the Pickens community and the School District of Pickens County. With the dedication of the new Pickens High School, dreams became reality.

Guided by their vision of quality, equity, and parity, the 2006-2007 Board of Trustees and Dr. Lee D’Andrea, former superintendent, committed themselves to a bold plan. Their dream of providing every Pickens County student with facilities that offer equal instructional opportunities and learning environments has been realized. We are all deeply grateful to those individuals.

PHS students now have a beautiful, state-of-the-art school. Inside the new building are quality learning spaces and infrastructure that supports the latest technology. Students and staff will be safe and secure in an environment that promotes the highest standards in teaching and learning.

I especially want to thank the Pickens County citizens who have made a tremendous investment in our students, our communities, and our future. I know that they will share my pride when they visit and observe the many ways we are “building success beyond the classroom” at Pickens High School and throughout the School District of Pickens County.

150 Blue Flame Drive officially became our new home when I received an email from Bob Folkman, building program administrator, on August 19, 2011 at 2:42 p.m. “Captain Kirk … The Enterprise is all yours!” What a day! Months of planning, construction, inspections, and countless hours of packing and preparation would culminate in our move. A bold new journey was indeed beginning.

I am thankful to the board of trustees, Dr. Lee D’Andrea, Dr. Mendel Stewart, and Dr. Henry Hunt for their leadership and vision in the building program. The architects and construction management team have built a beautiful facility that will serve the students and this community for years to come. I am also grateful to our teachers, staff, and administration for their continued commitment to excellence. With this building and the available technology, all the necessary tools are in place to provide an education that will truly prepare students for life and work in the 21st Century.

It is a blessing, honor, and true joy to share this new school with our students and this community. One young lady told me, “Mr. Lawson, I never thought I would get to go to school in a place like this.” The true value of this school is measured in benefits for our students. What an opportunity we have to provide an education in this environment. The latest technology is ready for use in the classrooms and labs. Through plays, concerts, pageants, athletic events, ball games, and other competitions, the Pickens community as a whole can enjoy Pickens High School …..Where Excellence Has a New Address!

Pickens High School Becomes Reality

Pickens High School 2

March 2008Ground is broken for the new Pickens High School.

July 2008Having been chosen as the contractor for site development, Cox and Floyd Grading, Inc. begin work at 4314 Moorefield Memorial Highway. Site development cost is $4,815,220.

April 2010SDPC board chairman Jim Shelton, former PHS principals Doug Clamp and Phil Greer, SIC chairman Isaiah Scipio, former school secretary Jeanette Winchester, and SDPC superintendent Henry Hunt join PHS principal Marion Lawson in laying ceremonial Pickens blue blocks.

November 2007144.26 acres of land at the intersection of Highway 178 and Gravely Road is purchased for $2,453,631.

March 2010Site work nears completion, and building construction has begun.

June 2009To keep construction costs in budget, the school’s original design is revised. The new design includes a floor plan of 253,324 square feet.

September 2009A contract for a guaranteed maximum price of $36,407,800 is awarded to Trehel/Balfour Beatty Construction.

August 2011The new building is cleared for occupancy and turned over to Marion Lawson mid-afternoon on Friday, August 19. Over the weekend, faculty and staff begin unpacking, organizing and preparing for registration. Mr. Lawson welcomes registering students t150 Blue Flame Drive on August 22.

September 25, 2011 • Pickens High School Dedication

Pickens High School3

Pickens High School

Instructional Spaces41 general classrooms • 12 science classrooms • 12

science labs with 6 shared prep rooms • 4 business & computer labs • family & consumer science • academic

enrichment lab • 6 special education resource classrooms

Media Center 5988 square feet • professional library •

2 conference rooms • 30 stations for electronic research

Pickens High School 4

Pickens High School

CafeteriaSeating for 630 • 4 serving lines • state-of-the-art video & audio presentation system

Administration, Guidance & SupportPrincipal’s office & conference room • 3 assistant principal offices • data entry & secretary/bookkeeper offices • SRO office • health suite • 7 offices for counselors • testing room • career planning room • 5 teacher workrooms • departmental storage rooms • 3 conference rooms

Pickens High School5

PHS Fine Arts

Auditorium with seating for 800 • male & female dressing rooms • scenery shop • drama

storage • drama classroom • 2 art classrooms • graphic arts lab • darkroom • band room • chorus

room • orchestra room • instrument & uniform storage • 6 practice rooms • 3 music libraries •

exterior band practice field

Pickens High School 6

PHS Athletics

Athletic WingGymnasium with seating for 2100 • auxiliary gym with multi-purpose floor & capacity for 350 • wrestling/cheering room with multi-purpose floor • 2100 square foot weight room • varsity & junior varsity team locker rooms for males & females • PE locker rooms for males & females • training room • multiple athletic/PE storage rooms • PE classroom • 2 ROTC classrooms

Onsite Athletic FacilitiesFootball stadium with home seating for 3500 & visitor seating for 2500 • 8-lane competition track & field event venues • 2 practice fields • baseball field • softball field • soccer field with artificial turf • 5 tennis courts • ROTC drill pad • cross country course

Our Thanks2006-2007 Board of Trustees

James C. Brice, Jr., M.D.Herbert P. Cooper, Jr., M.D.June HayShirley JonesKevin KayAlex SaittaJim SheltonB.J. Skelton, Ph.D.Oscar Thorsland

Current Board of TrusteesHerbert P. Cooper, Jr., M.D.Judy EdwardsJimmy GillespieAlex SaittaJim SheltonBen Trotter

SuperintendentsHenry Hunt, Ph.D. (2009 to Present)Mendel Stewart, Ed.D. (2009)Lee D’Andrea, Ph.D. (2006-2008)

1348 Griffin Mill RoadEasley, SC 29640-6997

P 864-397-1000F 864-855-8159

www.pickens.k12.sc.us

McMillan Pazdan SmithDonza MattisonMichael ShortBrian FolkmanDawn Leimbach

Balfour Beatty ConstructionRyan AllenJames ManleyAdam Wood

Trehel CorporationTyler McKeeJack Webber

Building Futures StaffBob Folkman

Building Program AdministratorJaime Benton

Building Project ManagerMark Ostendorf

Phase I Project ManagerJoe Tommie

Director of Construction ProcurementRhonda Duncan

Building Program Coordinator

We express our sincere appreciation to Trehel/Balfour Beatty Construction and to McMillan Pazdan Smith for financing this publication. Each company also provided photographs that have been used. Additionally, we express our appreciation to Marc Lamkin for allowing us to use his photography.

Pickens High School by the NumbersTotal Cost* . . . . . . . . .$43,676,651Acreage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144.26Square Footage . . . . . . . . 253,324Student Capacity . . . . . . . . . . 1778*Property, Design, Site Work, Construction

Technology HighlightsWireless environment • interactive boards in all teaching spaces • 6 mobile labs with 30 computers each • office/professional learning space for technology resource teacher • production studio • 38 digital signage flat screen monitors • security system with card access & 250 cameras • automated climate control system integrated with security & fire alarm