The Helena School District in Montana broke ground on a new high school on June 16, 2026, with projects to build a new Kessler Elementary School and major renovations for Capital High School expected later this year, according to montanafreepress.org.
In 2025, Helena voters approved $283 million in taxes for the projects.
School officials hope that by the fall of 2028 those projects are completed, according to montanafreepress.org.
The original Helena High School building from 1955 suffers from infrastructure deficiencies that include failing water boilers and a sinking foundation.
Its replacement will use the original gym and be built by the existing building. The original building will be demolished once its replacement is complete, montanafreepress.org reported
Dick Anderson Construction is serving as the general contractor and construction manager, while A&E + SMA Design and NAC Architecture serve as the primary project designers.
In addition to the high school, the district will build an alternative high school called Project for Alternative Learning (PAL) and a new district kitchen to be built on the Helena High School grounds, according to montanafreepress.org.
Early construction work includes site preparation, organization and setting up construction equipment, fencing and bringing in other materials.
Meantime, Kessler Elementary, which was built in 1936, will be replaced with a new building via a $42 million bond voters approved, montanafreepress.org reported.
Mosaic Architecture and Crushing Terrell are designing the new school, while Golden Eagle Construction and Swank Enterprises were brought on as the project’s general contractor and construction manager.
Plans call for an October groundbreaking.
And Capital High will be renovated instead of being demolished and students will attend while construction is under way, according to montanafreepress.org.
The school, which was built in 1965 as a Catholic high school, was acquired in 1973 by the school district. It needs approximately $14 million in deferred maintenance, as well as security and electrical improvements and a new HVAC system.
Slate Architecture and RTA Architects are heading the design for CHS, while Langlas & Associates will serve as the project’s general contractor and construction manager, montanafreepress.org reported. ♣
