It was a day for celebration at Central High School as ground was broken on a $22 million Arts and Library addition.
It will include a digital library, a 300-seat black box theater and space for performing arts, vocal and instrumental music and drama classes.
When those departments move out of their current space, the old space will be repurposed for Special Education and English Language Learners programs. "While the repurposed areas will not be visible to those who drive past on Dodge or 20th, they are equally, if not more important," says prinicpal Dr. Edward Bennett.
School officials say in keeping with the more than 100 year old history of the high school, the new addition will be built with limestone from the same quarry in Indiana.
Most of the money for the project was donated by alumni. $4 million will come from the Omaha Public Schools district.
The new addition is scheduled to be completed by winter of 2018