With a resounding crash of brick and glass, Canyons District celebrated the start of work on the new Mount Jordan Middle by tearing down one of the school’s old walls.
More than 200 parents, teachers, students and members of the community attended the Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013 event. Dignitaries included Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan, members of the Sandy City Council, and Draper Mayor Darrell Smith, who attended the school as a teenager.
To the cheers of the crowd, Mount Jordan Principal Molly Hart hopped into a giant machine with a claw that was poised to pull down part of the wall to her old office. “Dr. Hart,” Board member Tracy Scott Cowdell said from the microphone, “pull down that wall.” With the flip of a few levers, the first whack was taken at the 59-year-old building. After that first swipe at the building, dignitaries then grabbed golden-painted shovels, donned hard hats and did the ceremonial turning of the dirt on the new building, which is expected to be completed in fall 2015.
The new Mount Jordan Middle is made possible by a $250 million bond approved by voters in 2010. The new school will have a state-of-the-art auditorium; a 180-seat lecture hall; hallways and classrooms filled with natural light; an expanded cafeteria and spacious commons area; a gymnasium with two full courts, 14 basketball hoops, large locker rooms, fitness rooms dedicated to dance and strength training, and an elevated indoor running track with a special surface for running; and a performing arts suite for choir and band practices.
MHTN Architects will be working with Hogan and Associates Construction to construct the building. Dr. Hart said she’s excited to move into the building in two years. “I dare say that, with our academic innovations, as well as parent and neighborhood support, this new middle school will become one of the crown jewels of education in the Salt Lake Valley,” Hart said.
Students at Mount Jordan will temporarily attend the former Crescent View Middle at 11150 S. 300 East while their new school is under construction.
Upon its completion, the new Mount Jordan Middle will mark the sixth major renovation or newly built school Canyons has completed since the $250 million bond was approved in 2010.
This year, the District opened Butler Middle, Draper Park Middle and Corner Canyon High. The newly renovated Albion Middle and newly built Midvale Elementary were completed in 2012. In addition, Sandy Elementary was brought up to seismic code, new wings were added to Hillcrest and Brighton High Schools and air-conditioning was installed in all schools that were lacking.
Photographs of the event are on our Facebook page.
Read the article in the Valley Journals.
