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- Norfolk Public Schools and the City of Norfolk held a Jan. 9 groundbreaking ceremony for a new听$230 million听Maury High School campus.听
- District leaders framed the project as a long-term education investment tied to student outcomes and community confidence.听
- Principal Karen Berg highlighted student-centered spaces intended to support collaboration,听creativity听and belonging.听
- Student speakers said the new building will be a place where their futures begin, with the district targeting a fall 2028 opening.听
- Heartland Construction鈥檚 vice president said the project will be delivered on time, according to the district recap.听
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NORFOLK, Va. 鈥� Norfolk Public Schools and the City of Norfolk marked the start of work on a new听$230 million,听state-of-the-art听Maury High School with a Jan. 9 groundbreaking ceremony.听听
Built to accommodate a growing student body, the new campus will include experiential labs for career and technical education programs such as culinary arts, ROTC, and the Medical and Health Specialties Program. A 700-seat auditorium and dedicated听spaces听for fine and performing arts will provide opportunities for students in music,听theater听and visual arts.听Additionally, the school will feature a multi-purpose field with an exercise track, baseball and softball听fields, a six-court tennis complex, and practice facilities for track and field. The two multi-purpose fields are intended for a variety of sports and activities, including soccer,听lacrosse听and field hockey.听听
鈥淭his new school has been thoughtfully designed with students at the center including spaces that encourage collaboration, creativity, and belonging,鈥� said Maury Principal Karen Berg, according to听.听
A key feature of the site design is its focus on sustainability and coastal resilience, according to the project website. The project incorporates a stormwater park and a constructed wetland to manage flooding, enhance water听quality听and create educational opportunities for students. Native plantings will support local wildlife habitats while increasing flood storage capacity during severe weather events.听
Community input has been integral to the project鈥檚 development.听Project plans note that the new Maury High School will not only serve as a modern educational hub but also as a symbol of Norfolk鈥檚 commitment to resilient, forward-thinking design. By combining design excellence with meaningful community involvement, this project will enhance the听city鈥檚 educational infrastructure and support long-term community well-being.听
鈥淭oday is more than听a groundbreaking听but it is a promise,鈥澨齭aid NPS Chair Tiffany Moore-Buffaloe听at the ceremony,听according to听.听
Heartland Construction will deliver听the project听across three construction phases. The first phase will focus on site preparation and the construction of new athletic fields and stormwater management facilities. Phase II will result in the construction of the new school building, while Phase III will focus on the construction of a new multi-purpose athletic field.听The school is expected to welcome its first students in time for the 2028-29 academic year.听
The听new听L-shaped听facility will span听315,000 square feet听and will serve an estimated 1,750 students. The original听school听building听opened in fall 1910, making it the city鈥檚 oldest school,听and has been a longstanding point of pride for the community.听
This article is based on reporting originally published by听听on Jan. 12, 2026.听