A preliminary design concept shows the front of the new High School for Law and Justice.
In February, HISD completed the purchase of property near downtown at Scott and Coyle streets, which will become the campus for the new High School for Law and Justice.
The school’s new three-story building, part of the district’s $1.89 billion bond program, will combine a 21st century learning environment with unique features – including a courtroom, a crime scene investigations lab, an emergency communications center, and a law library.
“I’m really happy with the design plans and am excited for construction to start later this summer,” said Principal Carol Mosteit. “The new location will further expose our students to the professions of law and justice they are interested in pursuing.”
The property is centrally located near the Houston Police Department’s South Central Station, the University of Houston, and Texas Southern University – with easy access to the freeway, rail, and bike trails.
The property will be cleared for construction in the coming months. As part of this phase, the structures will be secured, an environmental assessment to identify hazardous materials will be conducted, asbestos will be abated (if needed) and utilities disconnected, and the buildings finally will come down – a process expected to take about 12 weeks.
Construction is expected to begin in late summer and last about 20 months, allowing for students to attend classes in the new building in January 2017.
The High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice has been located at 4707 Dickson St. at Shepherd since 1981. The school will transition to its new name, High School for Law and Justice, once move-in is complete.
St. Thomas High School won the contract to purchase the existing school and will expand its campus to that site once it is vacated.