When the calendar changed to January 2024, not only did a new year begin; but a new building was welcomed at the Poplar Bluff Junior High campus.
“I’m very excited,” PBJHS Principal Candace Warren exclaimed. “This has exceeded all of my expectations.”
The building is the new PBJHS Activity Center; and, while it features a new, large weight room, it also has a large open room to accommodate guest speakers or other activities, as well as three classrooms.
The $2.6 million project was completed at the backend of Fred M. Morrow Stadium. It is 8,700 square feet and was designed by Dille and Pollard Architecture, with construction led by C.E. Norton.
“Two of the classrooms in the front of the building are specifically for science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes,” Warren explained. “For example: in this classroom here, they do design and modeling for different projects. One of the assignments is to design a robotic hand for a person with cerebral palsy.”
The other STEM classroom, Warren explained, is used for “Medical Detectives,” which is a program that explores multiple different occupations in the medical field.
“In this class, the students come into contact with information that is valuable for helping them learn more about the medical field,” Warren stated. “In this class, they learn to do things like read blood pressure and check vital signs.”
The third classroom in the building is used for a health class, where the students learn about nutrition, sports science and other things of that nature.
“We’re also going to have some sound panels brought into the large middle room, to install for future events such as guest speakers and things like that,” Warren remarked.
Warren went on to explain the weight room will be used by student athletes, but also by students in advanced “athletic physical education class.” In addition to that, the weight room will also be available for use by faculty and staff.
Warren said the building took approximately a year and a half to complete, and it was officially ready for use when school was back in session Jan. 5.
“Anytime we can use this space for any reason, we will,” Warren said. “Whether it’s for guest speakers or special events, we will definitely get our use out of this building.”
The new building replaced the district’s oldest structure, a 1937 former industrial arts building.