Huntington Middle School: The Next Chapter

The proud history of Huntington High School and Huntington Middle School will continue with the construction of a new 600-student middle school, anticipated to open during the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year.

The new middle school is part of the city’s Southeast Community Resource Area that is set to include a public library and community center, as well as sports and recreation features.

Construction Progress Update

January 14, 2025

The Huntington Middle School building site is divided into four (4) building zones, A, B, C, & D. MEB General Contractors, Inc, the Contractor, is developing the building pad in the order of zones C, D, B, and A. The work completed in these building zones are as follows:

In Zone "C" the contractor has completed the following:

• Cast-in-Place perimeter footings with reinforcement are complete.
• Plumbing & Electrical rough-ins under-slab for the gym and locker rooms are approximately 70% complete.
• Gym masonry block walls are at full elevation Above Finish Floor (AFF).
• First concrete slab-on-grade placement for the gym and locker room floors are scheduled for January 27, 2025.

In Zone "D" of the building the contractor has completed the following:

• Cast-in-Place perimeter footings with reinforcement are complete.
• Plumbing & Electrical rough-ins under-slab for the kitchen and cafeteria are approximately 50% complete.
• Kitchen & Cafeteria masonry block walls are approximately 25% AFF.
• Stairwell #2 masonry block walls are at full elevation AFF.

In Zone "B" of the building the contractor has completed the following:

• Cast-in-Place perimeter footings with reinforcement are complete.
• Stairwell #1 masonry block walls are approximately 75% complete.
• Elevator pit foundation is complete.
• Elevator shaft masonry block walls are at full elevation AFF.

In Zone "A" of the building the contractor has completed the following:

• Cast-in-Place perimeter footings with reinforcement are complete.
• Start installation of CMU block walls over perimeter footings to concrete slab-on-grade elevation.

Utility status is as follows:

• Water: Newport News Waterworks is still working on designs, 1-8-25.
• Sewer: The Contractor per Change Order #2 has paid HRSD tap fees.
• Stormwater:
  • Right-of-Way issues have been resolved along Wickham to allow the Contractor to submit permit applications for construction. Traffic Control Plan anticipated start is TBD for stormwater structures near or in roadways.
  • Storm Sewer Lines onsite in Courtyard of the school building are established in-ground.
• Power: Dominion Energy is conducting an electrical survey for the site and has assigned an electrical designer to develop the service. Dominion Energy indicated they anticipate to begin design work in January 2025. There is no indication when Dominion Energy plans to complete design studies & surveys.
• Gas: City of Newport News has initiated paperwork with Natural Gas for service. Gas meter locations have been provided to the Owner and confirmed by the design team 1-8-2025.
• Communications:
  • The Civil Engineer of Record, Kimley Horn, is making design revisions to establish the most efficient route for fiber optics and Cox Communications.
  • NNPS Technology has provided the design team with CCTV camera locations for building & site security. The design team will review camera locations and finalize documentation for the contractor.

Four Week Look Ahead Schedule is as follows:

• The Contractor will construct the building perimeter footings for the Field House.
• The Contractor will continue Plumbing & Electrical rough-ins under slab for the "first" concrete slab-on-grade placement for the gym and locker room floors.
• Continue to install load bearing CMU Block Walls in Zones C, D, & B.
• Continue installation of CMU block walls over perimeter footings to slab-on-grade elevation in Zone A.
• Continue to rough-in Plumbing & Electrical in CMU block walls all building Zones.
• Continue with development of the field house foundation.
• Continue development of utilities.