The Construction Process
Construction on William A. Diggs Elementary School is 80 percent complete, and despite recent wintry weather, the school is scheduled to open on time in August 2006. Construction is moving along as planned, and the brick façade on the outside walls is being installed. Since the building is under roof, interior work is unaffected by the wet weather and is progressing. Temporary heat has been installed in the building, and painting has started in the education wings. Exterior metal, case goods and floor tile installation will start before the end of February.
When complete, Diggs will house an estimated 768 students and will relieve overcrowding at a number of nearby elementary schools. The school is designed as an 86,000-square-foot, one-story building. The $8.4 million cost of the school was forward funded by the Charles County Commissioners and is being built entirely with local money.
Diggs is the second of three school buildings to be built on the Davis Road site. North Point High School for Science, Technology and Industry, which opened in August 2005, was the first school. Theodore Davis Middle School is the third school on the campus, and is expected to open in August 2007.
Diggs Elementary has an innovative design and concept. The SHW Group, which was the architect of North Point, also designed this building. There are 24 regular educational classrooms, four kindergarten classrooms, two prekindergarten classrooms and four special education classrooms. Additionally, there is classroom space for special classes such as science, art, music, computers and others.
All three schools on the North Point site will carry a consistent architectural theme as well as a main street concept to make the schools easier to navigate for both students and visitors.