SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The multi-year, nearly 100 million dollar renovation at Lanphier High School has finally reached the finishing line. Starting Tuesday, students will be fully moved into the building. There are still a few projects that need to be completed, but that work will continue while school is in session and over the summer. 

The new state of the art facility focuses on improving opportunities for collaboration between students and staff, and opening areas for career-based learning. This include a student kitchen, building trades area, and esports gym. 

"Think about when students decide to follow their career pathway, when they go to either a trade school, when they go to a junior college or a four year college, this is the type of environment that they're going into," said Lanphier's Interim Principal Alicia Miller. "So we're trying to prepare our students for what they can expect for life beyond high school."

Miller says she also expects higher attendance from students as they are excited to learn about the new facilities. She also says faculty are excited to have permanent classrooms and extra storage space.

"When you have a place to go that instills hope and motivation, kids will come here ready to learn," said Miller. "So all of us are looking forward to motivating our students and they're excited about this."

The renovation process includes demolishing parts of the original building and renovating other sections. A new atrium area is the center of the school and connects to the multiple new gym facilities. The project was funded by a one cent sales tax passed in 2017. 

"All of these things are feeding into this community and making it bright and new," said Jennifer Gill, Superintendent of District 186. "We hope this will revitalize housing and people's interests in living, growing, buying, and shopping on this side of town." 

The first home game will be held tomorrow in the new gym facility. 

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