Franklin High School construction wrapped up 2025 with big strides of progress for the new football stadium.
Director of Plant Operations Tracy Tallent said at the Dec. 15 Board of Education meeting he was working to coordinate cost information between the project’s architect, LS3P, and project management firm, Carroll Daniels. He said the project is still on schedule.
Construction of the stadium is well underway, with contractors recently installing the guest bleachers near Wayah Street and laying new concrete for a large plaza between the student parking lot and the stadium. The plaza will serve as a meeting place for people as they arrive or leave games or other events.
Next to the plaza will be a “wall of honor” to recognize donors to previous renovations to buildings and facilities at the high school. Plaques recognizing those who gave money will be transferred from the old building to the wall of honor. Tallent said they already had designs in place and the plaques ready to be added.
Board Chair Jim Breedlove said, “I just want it put somewhere where, when people come in … it needs to be in a prominent area where people can see it. I think that’s very important.”
“We’re starting to swing steel. If you see it hanging from the end of the crane there, you drive uptown and see the boom from the crane, it’s kind of exciting to see that and see it all the way across town,” Tallent said.
Contractors have poured concrete for the new gym floor and preparations are being made to build the indoor walking track on the inside of the gym. Windows have been set into the press box and most of the brickwork has been completed on the home side. An additional plaza around the concession stand will allow people to walk and congregate, and to make trips for concessions and bathroom breaks.
Carroll Daniels Superintendent Joey Cain said the last two big concrete pours came out to around 260 cubic yards of concrete.
The home side bleachers will be made from aluminum, sealed off to keep people or lost items from ending up underneath and placed on fabric to keep weeds from coming up.
“Water can go through the bleachers, the way the bleachers are designed,” Tallent said. “I was really hoping there would be poured bleachers, concrete bleachers, but with engineering they were afraid that would shift over the years … they will be sealed up to where nothing can get down. You know, like we used to play under. They won’t be able to do that.”
A retaining wall at the base of the Frog Town slope has been completed, marking what is nearly the end of all the work needed for the slope. Additional progress has been made at the new cafeteria/kitchen, and several sets of steps around the stadium have been poured. The stadium is expected to be completed in time for the fall football season, but will not be ready for graduation, Tallent said.
“It’s really exciting to see week to week, because if you don’t drive by, in a week’s time you drive by like ‘well, look what’s happening?’” Tallent said.