HAMPSTEAD, NC — Construction continues to move forward at the future J.H. Lea Elementary and Middle School campus in Hampstead, where crews marked another major milestone with a special lunch recognizing 500,000 work hours on the project.
Members of the construction team gathered at the site to celebrate the achievement as work continues across the campus ahead of its planned August 2027 opening. The lunch provided an opportunity to recognize the hundreds of workers who have helped bring the new school from plans on paper to a rapidly developing campus.
The milestone represents a significant amount of work completed since construction began, with crews continuing to make progress throughout the elementary and middle school buildings, athletic and common areas, and other portions of the site.
“Reaching 500,000 hours gives you a real sense of just how much work has gone into this project,” said Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove. “There are so many people behind the scenes and on this site every day helping turn this vision into a school that will serve Pender County students and families for generations.”
The J.H. Lea campus is one of the largest school construction projects in Pender County Schools history and is designed to serve approximately 2,300 students. The new campus will include both elementary and middle school spaces and is scheduled to welcome students in August 2027.
The celebration was also an opportunity to recognize the continued commitment of the crews working each day to keep the project moving forward.
“Half a million work hours is an incredible milestone,” said Ben Warren, Vice President of Bordeaux Construction and project manager for the project. “It represents the effort of a tremendous number of men and women who have contributed to this project, and we appreciate the work they continue to put in every day.”
With construction continuing throughout the school year, the campus is steadily taking shape as Pender County Schools moves closer to opening the doors of J.H. Lea Elementary and Middle School.