Architects reveal plans for new Towne Acres Elementary School

Architects reveal plans for new Towne Acres Elementary School Parents got a sneak peek of the district’s plans for a more modern and secure Towne Acres Elementary School Thursday at a meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association.

Architects from Thomas Weems and the Lewis Group, the firms hired to design the new school, unveiled concept drawings and schematics for the single, two-level building. The current Towne Acres is three separate buildings, the oldest of which is 58 years old. The proposed replacement will be easier to secure, have new electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems and will give the district more room to address the needs of a growing Johnson City.

“I am extremely excited to be unveiling where we are in the process with the new Towne Acres,” Towne Acres Principal Josh Simmons said. “While we have only scratched the surface, we are very proud of the progress our team has made and where we are in the process. We want this to be a school campus that our community is proud of and that meets the needs of students now and in the future.”

In addition to administrative offices, a cafeteria, a small theater and a gym with 1,000 seats, the new Towne Acres will have 38 classrooms, providing enough space for 750 students. The current campus, designed for 420 students, currently serves around 450, pushing it to maximum capacity. With population growth expected in Johnson City in the next 10 years, especially on the north side, making more room for students is essential.

Outside, students will be able to enjoy a secure playground, an amphitheater and a dining patio, and separate covered drop-off locations, for buses on Clover Drive and for cars on Ferndale Road, will help manage traffic during peak hours before and after school. Additional parking will also help keep traffic congestion to a minimum in the surrounding residential neighborhood.

The new school will be built on the eastern side of the campus on an unused portion of the property, meaning classes at the existing Towne Acres can continue without interruption. Students will not be dispersed to other schools during construction.