Construction and development firm Skanska has completed a $38 million expansion project at Newsome High School in Lithia, Hillsborough County, Florida, enhancing the campus with new arts and athletic facilities to support a growing student population.

The project, which added approximately 45,000 square feet of new construction, was designed by Hepner Architects and focused on both performance and athletic space upgrades. One of the major components of the expansion was a brand-new auditorium that seats 1,000 people—twice the size of the school’s original performance hall.

In addition to constructing the new auditorium, Skanska renovated the old one, transforming it into functional classroom and storage space to support Newsome’s music and performing arts departments, including band, orchestra, drama, and vocal programs.

The expansion also included significant upgrades to Newsome’s athletic infrastructure. The school’s outdated weight room was converted into a modern, 7,000-square-foot athletic training facility, while an additional 2,000-square-foot space was developed specifically for the wrestling program.

The overall expansion and renovation work means the updated facilities can now accommodate up to 3,200 students, a necessary improvement given the area’s population growth and increased school enrollment.

“We are excited to deliver so many new and upgraded facilities to the students, faculty and staff of Newsome High School,” said Daniel Abou-Jaoude, Vice President at Skanska.

The project was completed on time and is expected to significantly improve both the academic and extracurricular experiences for students. With new, purpose-built areas for training, performance, and education, Newsome High is better equipped to serve its community.

Skanska has an extensive portfolio of education projects in Florida and currently has over $400 million worth of work underway for K-12 and higher education clients across the state.

The completion of this project marks a major milestone not only for the school but also for Hillsborough County Public Schools as they continue to invest in modernizing educational infrastructure to keep up with growth and evolving student needs.

Originally reported by Rod Sweet in GCR.