Latest news with #FrankNola
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Huntsville shows off final design for Big Spring Park East expansion
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The City of Huntsville has unveiled the final design for the expansion of Big Spring Park East. On Tuesday, the city showed the final designs for the expansion to the Huntsville Planning Commission. The new design takes the site of the old Huntsville City Hall and turns it into green space, which the city said will add 2.4 acres to Big Spring Park. Huntsville City School Board passes changes to cell phone policy The city said Chad Bostick, with Bostick Landscape Architects, and Frank Nola of Nola Van Peursem presented the plan to the commission. Mayor Tommy Battle said the design is a big step forward. 'As our downtown thrives, so does the need for recreational spaces,' he said. 'This property presents an opportunity to expand Big Spring Park, solidifying its position as a cherished community landmark. By enlarging the footprint, we provide an even larger public space for everyone to enjoy.' City officials said the design features the following: Multiple terraced plaza levels for gathering and relaxing A central pavilion with a green roof for hosting events and community programs New sidewalk and hardscape connections to Church Street Improved ADA access through a gently winding path reminiscent of San Francisco's Lombard Street Landscaping upgrades, including irrigation, shade trees, rain gardens, and enhanced lighting A children's playground Public art installations and a calming water feature to help buffer downtown noise The city said the key feature of the design is the lower terrace, which will link Big Spring Park East and West while providing an overlook to the park's ponds. 'This plan packs in a lot of desirable public elements, but what excites me most is the bigger picture,' Bostick said. 'We're creating beautiful gardens, plazas and a public pavilion with a green roof, but as significant is the connectivity. This plan ties Big Spring Park east and west together and creates pedestrian and ADA access to Fountain Circle.' The city said it plans to bid out the project in July, with construction expected to be complete by the end of 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HCS gives update on construction of new career tech center, central office
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville City Schools is building two state-of-the-art buildings on the same campus near Memorial Parkway. On Friday, the school system invited News 19 to get an inside look at the construction progress. Madison nonprofit celebrates excellent volunteers, community impact in the city Huntsville City Schools estimates that construction on the new Central Office is about 80% complete. HCS expects administration employees will move into the new Central Office by the end of this school year. Right next door, HCS is building a new Career Tech Center to house the district's Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. According to HCS, construction is about 60% complete on that building. The Career Tech Center has specialized labs and classrooms to accommodate various CTE programs. 'It was a lot of fun to be able to design a building like this,' said building architect Frank Nola of Nola | Van Peursem Architects. According to Huntsville City Schools, the 81,000-square-foot Career Tech building will provide space for about 600 CTE students. Huntsville police say crime rates have gone down, while population has gone up Huntsville City Schools said there are nine existing CTE programs and two new programs being added in 2025. Automotive Technology (launching in 2025) Industrial Technology (launching in 2025) Building Science Cosmetology Culinary Arts Advanced Manufacturing Design Advanced Health Science Greenpower Precision Machining Welding Educationand Training Nola told News 19 that he's excited for Career Tech students to see the new space. 'My hope for the students is that they come in and say 'Oh wow, we love this place',' Nola said. 'Then future students, from a recruitment standpoint, come in and say 'we want to go to this place,'' Huntsville City Schools unveiled plans for the new Central Office and Career Tech building in September of 2022. Nola said he's excited to see it coming together after months of construction. 'As we see the building take shape, it's got a really cool form, I think it says a lot about progress in our city and the redevelopment of north Huntsville,' he said. Huntsville City Schools said it expects students to be able to start classes at the new Career Tech center this fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
