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Opportunity for students and the community highlighted in Cooper River CAS dedication ceremony
The Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies, in Charleston County School District’s (CCSD) Constituent District 4, will provide life-changing opportunities for the students who take advantage of the opportunities offered in that new facility. Today, that new facility, and those opportunities, were highlighted and celebrated at a dedication ceremony.
Featured speakers at the event included City of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, CCSD Board of Trustees Chair Rev. Dr. Eric Mack, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gerrita Postlewait, and Principal Vanessa Brown.
“This is a place where students can put into practice the hope they have for the future,” said Brown. “Now students who live in the same neighborhoods I grew up in will have access to explore and study careers they may have previously considered beyond their reach. My staff and I pledge that this is where we will develop highly-trained professionals.”
Scholars from Burke High School, Military Magnet Academy, North Charleston High School, and R.B. Stall High School can choose from seven Career Pathways that offer a total of 12 high-demand, high-wage programs.
The new state-of-the-art, 84,000 square-foot building is designed to seat 600 students and is located across from North Charleston High School. The building includes both classrooms and lab spaces for programs such as health science technologies, information technology pre-engineering, arts, and audio-visual technologies.
Cooper River CAS also has high-bay facilities for Auto Collision Repair, Mechatronics and Building Construction, labs for STEM classes, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Cyber Security, Computer Repair, and ‘Project Lead the Way’ classes. Other areas of the building include maker spaces, a two-story exhibition space, and a 150-seat lecture hall.
“I don’t think I’ve walked into any building that is classified as a school in Charleston County that has demonstrated so much beauty and a welcome approach,” said Mayor Summey. “I think this is one of the greatest and wisest things that we’ve done in the greater Charleston area in years. Our children and grandchildren are going to benefit from what’s happening here.”
The construction team worked in tandem with local and state agencies to open the school on time and within the approved budget of $42.7 million. The Cooper River CAS was funded by a “Yes” vote of the Charleston County Education Sales and Use Tax Referendum of 2014.
In addition to the construction management team, Cumming/Brownstone, the architect was Steven & Wilkinson/Red Iron Architects, and the general contractor was McKnight Construction. The Project Manager was Margarita Perez and the Site Manager was John Calvin.
For more information, contact Principal Vanessa Brown at (843) 953-3231