First Look: New Ernest Ward Middle School

August 7, 2013

An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held Thursday for the rebuild of  Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill and A.K. Suter Elementary in Pensacola.

The groundbreaking at Ernest Ward will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at the school campus, 7650 Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. The A.K. Suter groundbreaking will be held at 1 p.m. at the schoo, 501 Pickens Avenue in Pensacola. The public is invited to both ceremonies.

Both schools are being rebuilt, Ernest Ward at a cost of about $16.5 million  and A.K. Suter at a cost of about $21 million. Both schools will remain open during the reconstruction process.

Both construction projects are being funded by half-cent sales tax monies.  It is anticipated that the new structure at A.K. Suter will be open for the 2014-2015 school year; Ernest Ward Middle School’s construction will take approximately two years for completion.

The new two-story Ernest Ward school building will be constructed as students remain on campus in the current facility. The new schoolwill be constructed between the current building and the football stadium.

The oldest buildings at Ernest Ward, including the main classroom wing, were constructed in 1945, while portions of Suter were build in the 1920’s. Once the new building is complete, the current building will be torn down, and portables and modular buildings  currently on the campus will be removed.

Pictured top: A conceptual drawing of the new Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: A conceptual drawing showing the inside of the library at the new Ernest Ward. NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.

Comments

13 Responses to “First Look: New Ernest Ward Middle School”

  1. Formerewmsstudent on August 8th, 2013 8:56 pm

    So sad to see the old school go , SO many memories are in that school .

  2. Student at ewms. on August 8th, 2013 8:52 pm

    This school is needed because the other one was terrible. I’m glad for all the students that will get to go there.

  3. Charlotte Lucas on August 8th, 2013 1:44 pm

    My 45th class reunion will be held at Ernest Ward in September. Glad to be able to be in the school one last time before it is demolished. We need a new school and I look forward to our students having a new and modern building.

  4. Classof92 on August 8th, 2013 9:32 am

    Sad to see our old school go…. but look forward to my children attending in a nice, new school. :) And I remember the old wooden gym…. when they took it down… My Dad bought up the gym floor wood and redid our living room with it :)

  5. Wilmagibson on August 8th, 2013 5:53 am

    I well remember how hard the parents worked to make the money to buy the room air-conditioners for Ernest Ward. We had various fund raisers and contributions from various people and businesses. I have many fond memories of my years at Ernest Ward and the years my children spent there.

  6. JimD on August 7th, 2013 9:09 pm

    CW
    True, a building constructed in 1978 is not that old (35 years), but it is still one of the the ugliest thing Escambia Country Schools built, and yes I remember the old Wooden White gym that was there before it….pre 1950’s

    I agree with William, hope there is a lot of paint.

  7. CW on August 7th, 2013 3:15 pm

    That sure is a huge roof area over the library, seems like a lot of rain runoff to one side.

    As for the current gym, it was built in 1978, which is not old for a building.

  8. William on August 7th, 2013 2:02 pm

    >>What is that building not attached? Is that the gym?

    In one set of the floor plans, it is attached (unlike the rendering above). The drawings and floor plans are still preliminary works in progress. In the latest plans I have, that are is the band room one one side of the hall and ag across the hall.

    We will be publishing the preliminary floor plants on Thursday or Friday for everyone to see.

    The current old blue gym will remain, hopefully with a new floor and a lot of paint.

  9. Mark on August 7th, 2013 1:53 pm

    What is that building not attached? Is that the gym?

  10. William on August 7th, 2013 1:18 pm

    JImD

    >> Would be nice to see plans if they ever become available.

    We will be publishing the preliminary plants tomorrow or Friday. I just received the digital copies today.

    >> they are keeping that crazy blue building. At least cover it up with a brick cladding.

    I believe a lot of paint is in the works

  11. JimD on August 7th, 2013 12:53 pm

    From the picture above, it looks like the new school will be built behind the old one, from what I remember, making it equal to the Art building or band Building. Would be nice to see plans if they ever become available.

    Schools have to change with the times. I was at Ernest Ward for all 12 years 1st through 12th grade; graduated in the early 1980’s.

    The installation of air conditioners (window units) was a big deal. No two rooms on campus were the same temperature. Hard to believe from all of the buildings there (Art, band and gym) they are keeping that crazy blue building. At least cover it up with a brick cladding.

  12. Southerner on August 7th, 2013 10:25 am

    Taxes, taxes, taxes.

  13. Former student of EWHS on August 7th, 2013 7:52 am

    So, So sad to see the old school torn down! But so happy to see a new one is going to be built! They could have decided to abandon the school completely.

    With the two story building the students will get some exercise! Great idea.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive