On April 10, representatives from Wharton-Smith, Riviera Beach, the School District of Palm Beach County, school staff, students, and the public joined in celebrating the groundbreaking of the new West Riviera Elementary School. See photos.
The West Riviera Elementary School will undergo a complete campus transformation, of which the focal point will be to demolish the current administration and classroom building to make way for its new ultramodern 45,000 square foot replacement. Other elements of the project will include the addition of an enhanced new covered play area, a physical education building, a central energy plant, and more. The existing cafeteria and kitchen will undergo complete renovation and expansion, and one existing 15,000 SF classroom building will be converted into a state-of-the-art media center encompassing a new soundproof studio.
“The reimagined campus will provide students more than just a new learning environment; it reimagines where a child in this community starts their educational journey in this state-of-the-art facility as a Mustang,” said School District of Palm Beach County Superintendent Michael Burke. He then added, “We do all this because of our students and want to give them every opportunity to learn and achieve their dreams.
Tom Jakubisin, Wharton-Smith’s South Florida Area Manager, remarked, “We are very excited for the opportunity to bring the district’s vision to reality. This school has been cherished by the community since it was built in 1966. Our partnership with the district allows for a wonderful rejuvenation that will serve the area and its children for another 50-plus years.”
The project is expected to be completed in October 2025.
