Update on the
New Thomas
Jefferson
High School
RYAN SNODGRASS
FACILITIES DIRECTOR
T
he summer months have brought a flurry of
activity to the site of the new Thomas Jefferson
High School. With little less than a year remaining for
the construction, the project continues to march on.
The new high school sits on 162 acres of land
across from Jefferson Elementary School. It is nestled
into a southern-facing valley that will bring in
natural light and a secluded feel to the new home
of the TJ Jaguars. The new TJ High School consists of
three major components: an Academics Wing in the
center, and an Arts Wing and Athletic Wing which
flank the academic core.
This summer, the focus of the construction crews’
work was to enclose the building and begin work
on the interior spaces. The building is primarily a
masonry building which means most of the exterior
and supports of the building are cement blocks that
are steel and concrete reinforced. Steel beams and
structural members then work in conjunction with
the masonry walls to form the various sections of
the building.
The second phase of steel erection began in
August which will form the auditorium and the
majority of the Arts Wing on the east side of the
building. Under the current schedule the building
will be fully enclosed in early October.
The new Thomas Jefferson High school will
feature state-of-the art learning spaces designed to
improve education and foster collaboration between
teachers and students, an eight-lane swimming
pool, a large-group instruction room with seating
for 250, media production spaces throughout,
outdoor learning spaces, a competition and auxiliary
gymnasium, and an auditorium that will outperform
any other high school auditorium in the region!
The new high school will be open for the 2018-
19 school year, with the Class of 2019 being the first
graduating class. Please visit www.newtjhs.com
for more information, updates and photos of the
construction progress.
44 West Jefferson Hills