Construction is continuing at full tilt at Arlington Career Center’s new home, with a planned opening date at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
The forthcoming Grace Hopper Center, located adjacent to the existing Career Center building at 816 S. Walter Reed Drive, has been rapidly taking shape since the project broke ground in May 2024.
While the frame of the forthcoming five-story structure is still visible in some places, the section near the playground at 7th Street S. already has walls, some windows and gray paint.
“This move represents a bold step forward in our commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and preparing students for success in college, careers, and life,” Career Center Principal Margaret Chung said in an update this week. “This is a school that will benefit our entire APS community, and we cannot wait to share it with all of you.”
In response to an inquiry about the current status of construction, Arlington Public Schools spokesperson Andrew Robinson directed ARLnow to Chung’s email and a construction update from June.
The first phase of the project, consisting of the construction of the Grace Hopper Center, a new streetscape and utility work, is expected to wrap up in summer 2026.
The second phase, which will involve some demolition work, the construction of a new parking garage and more streetscape changes, is on track to take place between summer 2026 and summer 2027.
Finally, a third phase involving constructing a new play field, repaving the bus loop and making further alterations to streets, is expected to conclude in fall 2027.
The new building will allow for a considerable expansion of the Arlington Tech Governor’s STEM Academy. While 462 students are enrolled in Arlington Tech for the coming school year, the program will have a capacity for 250 ninth-grade students starting in the 2026-27 school year, Robinson said.
Chung’s email also highlighted career and technical education programs at the forthcoming building, which will create opportunities to pursue professional credentials, certificates and degrees “that support lifelong learning and career growth.”
“We are thrilled to watch the Grace Hopper Center come to life, a school designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and career readiness,” Chung said.
