Among campus improvements this summer were the upgrade of the Tibbott Center’s roof, reconfiguring the Lower School Student Support Office and Middle School Counseling Office, and installing a brand-new playground on the Back Lawn.
By Ian Dinkins, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
When summer break hits, faculty and students depart 2000 Edgehill for a well-deserved break from school. For the Operations staff, summer is the time to work on a litany of projects that’ll improve the day-to-day experience for the USN community when school starts on Tuesday, August 12.
Each summer, Operations works on upgrading classrooms, replacing lighting and carpet, painting walls, replacing dated whiteboards with modern glassboards, and so much more.
While some projects have been added to the to-do list over the course of the school year, others are part of
USN’s strategic plan: Forward, which has already commenced.
One notable project is the construction of a new lighting system at the USN River Campus. Currently, only one of the River Campus fields is equipped with lights, limiting evening practices and games, especially in the winter and early spring. The project is expected to be completed by October and will provide a significant benefit to the Tigers as they compete in a variety of sports at the River Campus this year.
Another fun project taking shape this summer will see a brand-new playground built on USN’s Back Lawn. The modern, state-of-the-art play space will replace the beloved wooden playground, which was built almost 30 years ago. The new playground is expected to be ready for the upcoming school year, and students will have the opportunity to test/play on it during the
back-to-school Popsicle Party at 4 p.m. Sunday, August 10.
The Tibbott Center and Sperling Center have also undergone a major upgrade this summer. Some of the projects happening in those buildings, that is home to the Art Department, Sperling Cafeteria, and Sperling Gym include a new roof, new flooring on the first floor, repairs to the cafeteria restrooms' vanities and mirrors, and
a new mural in the USN band room, completed by MS and HS Art Teacher Andy King.
Additionally, the After School door leading to the white top was replaced this summer. This project included replacing the 1924 original door frame that had stood for more than 100 years.
Other summer upgrades include a new mirrored wall in the After School Block Room, new exterior doors for several Lower School classrooms, connecting USN's chilled water line with Vanderbilt, plumbing upgrades, seven new doors in USN Math classrooms, and a reconfiguration of the Gordon Wing third-grade locker room to become a space for the Middle School Counselor, and remodeling the Lower School student support office.