On Thursday, May 18, 2023, the Cherokee County School District Board unanimously approved a $179 million contract to construct the new Cherokee High School, designed by MSSA-PBK. “I’m so impressed by the design and the state-of-the-art labs,” said school board member Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison on Thursday, who previously served as Cherokee High School principal. “When I see how beautiful the front of that school is, I’m excited to vote for it tonight.” The contract with Carroll Daniel Construction is the largest ever awarded by the Cherokee County School District, which serves more than 41,000 students in 36 public schools. The $23 million site package for the 88-acre site was awarded to N.J. Wilbanks Contractor, Inc. on October 20, 2022, and site work began in December 2022. It will include 1,000 parking spaces and spaces for 44 buses to park. The new high school replaces the district’s oldest facility. The core buildings on the Cherokee HS campus opened in 1956, with numerous additions and renovations since including more than $16 Million in investments since 2002. The new 473,761-square-foot Cherokee High School, expected to open August 2026, is designed for 3,000 students. It will feature 152 classrooms, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and a 4,500-seat football stadium. “I’m looking forward to many generations of Cherokee High School students being educated in this new state-of-the-art high school,” said board member Patsy Jordan. Congratulations to the entire MSSA-PBK team for designing the largest project in the firm’s 74-year history!