Douglass High School celebrates end of renovations

On Thursday, students and parents got their first look at renovations inside Douglass High School in central Columbia.

“There are really special people in that building and they deserve a place that looks special,” said ribbon-cutting ceremony attendee Paula Herrera-Gudino. “They deserve a place that looks beautiful so that they can feel important and so that they can learn well.”

The school’s renovations began last summer, but funds for the project started to dwindle in February.

On Thursday, Dr. Eryca Neville, the principal of Douglass High School, acknowledged construction costs went over budget, but they were needed.

“Pieces that went over the budget were based off of opening a 100-year-old building and once you take the facing off the walls you get to see what’s happening on the inside,” Neville said of the building that was built in 1916. “I think if anybody’s ever watched HGTV or DIY they know this is what happens when you open an older building, so these things were expected.”

The multimillion dollar project included improvements to infrastructure like electric, air conditioning and heating systems.

It also helped the building meet ADA requirements.