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Modernization project reaches topping out milestone

Final structural beam at MacArthur HS placed as campus construction advances

Washington, D.C.’s MacArthur High School marked a major milestone in its ongoing modernization project on Friday, Dec. 19, with a topping-out ceremony held on campus.

The event commemorated the placement of the final structural beam, a traditional construction milestone that signifies the completion of a building’s framework. School staff and project partners gathered to sign the beam before it was raised into place.

The ceremony also included a catered lunch and a raffle, providing an opportunity to recognize the collective efforts of everyone involved in reaching this stage of construction.

The MacArthur High School project represents the opening of the first new high school in the District in 51 years. D.C. Public Schools purchased the former Georgetown Day School property, and the expansion project includes renovations to the existing school building as well as a new addition designed to better support academic programming.

Once complete, the upgraded campus will feature additional classrooms, enhanced student support spaces, and improved site amenities. The current phase of the project is expected to be completed in summer 2026. A final phase, scheduled for completion in the summer of 2028, will include a new auditorium and expanded cafeteria. This phase will also be managed by B&D and will incorporate the school’s renaming to John R. Thompson Jr. High School, honoring the former longtime coach of Georgetown University’s men’s basketball team.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this important project and to celebrate this milestone with the MacArthur community,” said Tom Henderson, project manager for B&D.

For updates on the MacArthur High School modernization project, click here.