Plans are now in the works for renovation and upgrade work to one of the most visually distinctive high schools in the southwest.
Members of the El Paso Independent School District board of trustees have voted to approve $17.5 million in funding for work at the El Paso High School, located at 800 East Schuster Avenue.
That funding will likely include a mix of revenue from a 2016 bond, grant funding, and a capital campaign.
Opened in 1916, the school is known for its neo-classical columns, marble floors, and coffered ceilings.
In 1980, the structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
District officials say work on the building will include new roofing, foundation support, and a preservation of all building elements.
Concerns about the structural condition of the school have been discussed for several years, but were heightened earlier this fall when a portion of the terra cotta baluster on the second floor broke loose.
Designed by the legendary architectural firm of Trost & Trost, the El Paso High School was listed as one of the “most beautiful public high schools in America” in 2017 by Architectural Digest.
By Garry Boulard
