Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – As with Lanphier High School before it, Springfield High School is about to become a major construction zone.

After a groundbreaking ceremony – actually more of a dirt-turning, as a pile of dirt sat on a parking lot – Friday morning, principal Lisa Leardi (pictured, at mic) told WTAX News about the important and special place SHS holds in Springfield.

“One of the great things about not only the alumni here but the community here and what they know about the building,” said Leardi. “It’s just the tradition and how long it’s been here and all the community events we have in addition to the Springfield High events, so it’s been a lot of planning trying to keep the old and the things we hold dear here and mixing that in with the new.”

The original building for the current SHS complex was built in 1916.

The construction is part of the district-wide Our Schools, Our Future program funded by a sales tax Sangamon County voters approved.

The first phase will be a gymnasium, storm shelter, and office area. The entire project will take 2 1/2 years.