Update on the Hanahan Middle School renovation project

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – The Berkeley County School Board met for a special meeting Thursday evening and discussed an update on the renovation and expansion of one of its high schools.

During Thursday night’s meeting, board members voted to reject EDIFICE Construction’s guaranteed maximum price, or GMP, proposal for the Hanahan Middle School project.

For this reason, school district officials say the next steps in the process include beginning negotiations with the next highest-ranked contractor for a new GMP, which will have to go before the school board.

This project is part of the first phase of their one percent Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax that was passed by voters in November 2022.

Together with the Hanahan Middle School project, this phase also includes the construction of a new elementary school in the Jedburg Road area near the intersection of Cane Bay Boulevard and Black Tom Road, as well as a new high school in the Nexton area.

Since the beginning of this school year, students and staff at Hanahan Middle School have been temporarily using a mobile campus at Hanahan Elementary School because they cannot be on campus while construction is underway.

The renovation plans for Hanahan Middle School will include demolition of the 1961 main entrance wing before constructing a two-story wing with 15 classrooms and 3 laboratories.

“They will be renovating the school to expand the square footage to just over 80,000 square feet to accommodate the growing student population in that area,” said Katie Tanner, Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer.

Tanner said Thursday night’s decision will not impact the construction timeline of this project.

“We didn’t have permission to begin any kind of land disturbance until January,” Tanner said.

She said this project is important for the region because of the increasing number of students.

“We always want to make sure our students have the right space to learn and that is a growing student population. That is why we want to offer them a high-quality school so that they can continue to meet the goals they want to achieve and succeed in doing so. for themselves,” Tanner said.

Officials said Hanahan Middle School is still scheduled to open in August 2026.