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     Shorecrest has developed a new campus plan containing four separate projects, including two separate carlines to improve campus flow, a new Upper School building to replace the Science and Technology building, a new Lower School building to unify the division and a change in the administration’s location to the front of the school so they have the “front door seat” to the school’s entrance. This last change would move all student spaces to the interior of the campus, which would make the school more safe and secure. 

     Many are hoping for these changes to occur within the next couple of years, but that time frame may not be realistic.

      “[We are aiming for a] multi-year project for all of it to be done,” Assistant Head for Advancement Michael Gillis said. “It could be ten years, or more.”

     For the Upper School project, Head of School Nancy Spencer said that they need to focus more on building up, not out.  

     “We have a lot of one-story buildings on this campus. The math classes will move over [into the new building], and [then] we’ll have a united Upper School,” she said.

     In 2020 — Spencer’s first year at Shorecrest — COVID was a major factor, causing isolation and fueling her to seek ways to further unify the Shorecrest community.

        Although this is just the beginning phase, Shorecrest has already reached out to the City of St. Pete, Southwest Florida Water Management District, their construction manager, possible donors and HKS Architecture about their plans.

     However, given that part of the school’s perimeter belongs to Duke Energy, including the junior lot, students wonder how much Duke will be involved in the projects’ construction. 

     “We don’t own that property. So [Duke Energy is ] letting us use it currently, and they have no plans right now to do anything there,” Spencer said. “They have input, so there is a possibility that they could become involved that way, but that’s probably the only way they would be involved.”

     Once the projects are underway, there is the potential that campus activity could be affected. With that being said, Shorecrest administration currently has no intention to close down campus or explore the idea of portable classrooms. They want to ensure the community’s safety and continuity comes first.    

     Although Lower and Upper School may change, there are currently no construction plans in progress for Middle School. As soon as Lower and Upper School are complete, Shorecrest will reevaluate the need to update the Middle School, as Spencer believes it to be unified already.

      “I would say it is both for the Upper School and the Lower School,” Spencer said. “This campaign is about unifying the community, pulling people together in a very exciting way.”