Carver Center Principal Calls New Building 'Spectacular'

After three years of construction, the new is ready to open its doors to students for the 2012-2013 school year. 

"Even though we knew the design and knew the layout, it is more spectacular than anyone imagined," said Karen Steele, the magnet school's principal.

Special features in the new 227,971-square-foot structure—which cost $58.7 million in state and county funds—include a 1000-seat theater, gallery space, accommodations for a culinary arts program, a cafe and a green design.

"Carver Center faculty and staff, Grimm and Parker architects and BCPS planners collaborated on the design and layout with one clear focus in mind—the learning and performance needs of these young artists and artisans," Steele said in a later email.

The old building had undergone several incarnations before it was used as an arts magnet high school. It previously served as Towsontowne Junior High School, Central Vo Tech and a school system physical facilities office.

"The layout and facilities reflected that abundant history," Steele said.

"When the former building transitioned from Central Vo Tech to Carver Center in 1993, many adaptations were made... Offices became AP studios, welding became sculpture, and two spaces were transformed into black box theatres," she wrote in an email.

The new building hosted a student orientation on Tuesday. The reviews are coming in and Steele said they're stellar, with one student saying, "My high school has turned into a college."

Students from will use the old Carver building for a year while their

The new school year starts Monday.