Purple Power Project - Renovation of 300 Building

Sentinel High School, through a private-public partnership, has initiated a capital campaign to improve its outdated athletic training equipment and renovate the 6,000+/- sq.ft. warehouse on the south end of the high school campus known as the 300 Building. This major, transformational fundraising project, if successful, will create a multi-purpose Health and Wellness Performance Center that will benefit all Sentinels students for decades to come.

The Why: A recent facilities study showed that Sentinel is over-crowded for its current and projected student population. Sentinel’s current athletic training room in particular is undersized and overcrowded for the number of students utilizing the space. Every day hundreds of students pack into the small area and use athletic training equipment that is 10+ years old, with some equipment nearing a state of unsafe disrepair. Additionally, Covid-19 has highlighted the need for safer spacing/social distancing for students when such space is available especially during physical exertion when masking is not advised.

The 300 Building and its Potential: The 300 Building is a set of aged metal buildings purchased years ago from Malstrom AFB. The metal buildings were joined into a single 6,000+/- sq.ft. warehouse which was formally used by the music department who have since moved to a newly constructed expansion to Sentinel. The 300 Building is currently uninhabitable and in a state of utter disrepair. There is no working HVAC system for the building and the area is being used mostly to house MCPS waste and junk. The 300 Building is in desperate need of renovation and is not being put to productive use, let alone its highest and best use.

The Plan and Vision: Sentinel plans to demolish the interior of the 300 Building and create an open warehouse training/meeting space for use by all Sentinel students. A new weight room area will be added to one side of the building, with multi-purpose turf installed throughout the remaining space offering all-season training and meeting opportunities. The renovation will also create a rentable, income producing area for the school. The project will require a new HVAC system and construction of new bathrooms and handicap assessable entrances/exits. Additionally, the plan calls for the installation of new windows, garage doors and large, industrial ventilation fans.

The Numbers: The project has three phases with estimated costs as follows: Phase 1 – Demolition ($60,000), Phase 2 – Mechanical & Architectural Design ($50,000), and Phase 3 – Construction & Equipment Installation ($515,000). MCPS has determined that some Covid-19 Cares Act funding is available for this renovation and has committed $100,000 toward the project. This leaves a fundraising need of $525,000.

The Need and the Ask: Our local students need and deserve a spacious indoor area where kids can gather safely and focus on their mental and physical health and wellbeing. Our students need and deserve equipment that is modern, safe and prepares students for fitness and injury prevention. Our school needs and deserves renovation of its existing under-utilized building to create a productive space which alleviates current and expected over-crowding.

The Path through Partners Such as You: Please consider giving to this project. We are looking for key community stakeholders and Sentinel supporters/alums to make this worthwhile project a reality. All contributions are tax deductible and will result in tangible benefits to thousands of kids for decades.