DSA’s Historic Carr Building Holding Open House
September 6, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Newly renovated local treasure now home to state-of-the-art learning facilities
Durham, NC – Durham School of the Arts and Durham Public Schools will host an open house celebrating the past, present, and future of the newly renovated, historic Julian S. Carr Building Saturday, September 10, at 2 p.m. at the school, 400 N. Duke Street.
The event on Sept. 10 will include the unveiling of a plaque to be installed at the school noting its key role in desegregation of Durham Public Schools. In September 1959, three African-American students enrolled at Carr, one of three Durham schools integrated for the first time that day.
The Durham School of the Arts PTA raised the funds for the plaque and is hosting the open house on Sept. 10. The $14.9 million renovation of the historic building – first opened in 1926 as Central Junior High School – has been underway for two years. Its completion will create a 21st century school facility lodged within a largely conserved early 20th-century building.
The renovated building will house state-of-the art science lab facilities, general classrooms and a resource room for Durham School of the Arts sixth and seventh grades. The fully equipped labs will replace labs for the middle school students that at times did not even include running water. New lunchroom facilities will accommodate the school’s enrollment, and expansive commons areas have been created on the ground floor. Performing and visual arts students from all grades at the school will have significantly upgraded and modern facilities.
Speaking at the Sept. 10 open house and reopening event will be DPS Superintendent Eric Becoats; DPS Board Chairwoman Minnie Forte-Brown; representatives of the DSA Parent-Teacher Association; DSA Principal David Hawks; other DPS officials and Preservation Durham, which will acknowledge the important preservation aspect of the historic Carr building, named in 1945 for one of Durham’s outstanding early citizens, Julian S. Carr. A plaque to be installed under a bust of Carr in the school’s original foyer will be dedicated to “Julian Shakespeare Carr/1845 – 1924/Industrialist and Philanthropist.”
While the tours of the renovated school are underway, a small group from the DSA Jazz Artistry group will perform. The group is led by Ken Davis. Before the ceremony begins at 2 p.m., the DSA Chamber Singers led by Sean Grier will entertain. After the ceremony, the public will be invited to tour the building and visit tables for DSA, PTSA, DSA Foundation and Preservation Durham. The PTSA will have refreshments, information on volunteering, membership and donations. The DSA Foundation will have information about the foundation. Preservation Durham will have a table with information about the organization, membership and donations.
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Jeff Nash
Interim Chief Communications Officer
P. 919.560.2602
C. 919.412.7947
jeff.nash@dpsnc.net
