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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

New Sandy Hook School unveiled

By Dave Altimari Tribune News Service

NEWTOWN, Conn. – The Sandy Hook Elementary School was opened to the media Friday, nearly four years after the mass shooting at the school.

The 86,800-square-foot school will house students in pre-kindergarten to fourth grade. The $50 million cost was covered by the state.

Media was invited to the school at 10 a.m. to hear remarks from First Selectman Patricia Llodra, Superintendent Joseph Erardi and representatives from architectural firm Svigals + Partners and Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Newtown residents were to be allowed in Friday evening.

The old school was demolished in late 2013, months after a gunman killed six educators and 20 children inside the school in December 2012.

The new school is on the same site as the former school, but is located farther back on the property. The footprint of the old school will be in the parking lot and other areas.

The builders did not build on the exact site of the two classrooms where children were killed, covering the area with gardens.

Jay Brotman, of Svigals and Partners, previously said the school will have state-of-the-art security measures, including cameras, secure doors and areas that are “hardened” or force-resistant.

The architecture firm held workshops with and sought input from Newtown residents during the design process.