The school built to replace the original building where 20 first-graders and six educators were killed opened to the media Friday in Newton, Connecticut.
The new $50 million, 86,000-square foot school was built on the existing site with a different layout, and will open to students this fall, according to the New Sandy Hook School website. The old Sandy Hook School was demolished following the December 2012 attack by Adam Lanza.
The project has a forest theme and was designed in remembrance of those lost, along with a focus on being safe, environmentally friendly and conducive to learning, WTIC reported.
“Sandy Hook will have a quiet opening in September,” Superintendent Joseph Erardi tod the Connecticut TV station. “We’re asking everyone to give us the space we need to focus entirely on teaching and learning when we return for our first day of school.”
Architects and designers held forums with local community leaders, teachers, parents and others to develop the plan. Construction on the school began in 2014 and more than 500 students from pre-K through fourth grade are expected to attend.
The elementary school students will be distributed between three classroom wings and separated by three courtyards, according to the Sandy Hook website.