North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Construction crews have reached a major milestone on the new Ashe County Middle School with the placement of the final structural steel beam atop the future campus in West Jefferson.
The topping-out ceremony, attended by representatives from Ashe County Schools, contractor Vannoy Construction and project partners, celebrated progress on the replacement middle school, which is scheduled for completion in 2028.
Designed by Clark Nexsen, the new facility will span approximately 158,000 square feet and serve students in grades six through eight. The school is being built on a nearly 40-acre greenfield site and will feature 46 classrooms, a media center, gymnasiums, an auditorium and full dining facilities.
The project also includes extensive sitework and plans for future athletic facilities and campus amenities that will serve students, staff and the broader community.
The school’s design centers around a main corridor connecting major gathering spaces, including the gymnasium and dining areas, through a “Hall of Awesome” intended to showcase career and technical education, arts and music programs. A three-story classroom wing will organize students by grade level, with each floor dedicated to one grade.
Each grade level will be divided into three teams, with groups of four classrooms connected by flexible collaboration spaces designed to support project-based learning and small-group instruction. Those collaboration areas will connect directly to the school’s media center.
A monumental stairway and terraced seating area will link the media center across all three levels, creating a central hub for students throughout the building. The design also takes advantage of the site’s topography, providing direct outdoor access from multiple levels.
Project officials said the building incorporates sustainable design principles and flexible learning environments intended to support evolving educational needs.
The topping-out ceremony included the traditional signing of the final beam before it was lifted into place, marking the completion of the building’s structural frame and the transition to the next phase of construction.
Vannoy Construction said the milestone reflects the collaboration and dedication of the project team as work continues toward delivering a modern educational facility for future generations of Ashe County students.