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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – After years of servicing Alabaster residents, the historic Thompson Intermediate School facility will soon be gone to make way for the city’s highly-anticipated new amenities.

Work has begun on the final phase of demolition on the old Thompson Intermediate School campus on the corner of Highway 119 and Thompson Road to make way for the city’s upcoming new recreation center and library which is expected to be completed by early 2027.

“It’s bittersweet to see the last of the old ACS Central Office building come down since it’s been a part of Alabaster’s history for generations,” Alabaster Public Relations Manager Neal Wagner said. “But we’re excited to see construction begin soon on a new rec center and library project that will serve a new generation of Alabaster residents for many years to come.”

The first phase of demolition on the area began on Jan. 29 with the second paused until recently so that the Alabaster City Schools Central Office could move into its new office facility on the grounds of the current Thompson High School. Demolition of the old TIS campus was previously approved in November 2024 to Complete Demolition Services LLC in the amount of $821,000.

The project for a new recreation center, library and a retail development off Highway 119 was approved by the Alabaster City Council to Clements Dean Building Company in April in the amount of $43,676,000.

“We’re so excited to move forward with this plan to breathe new life into one of our most high-profile parts of town and finally have an opportunity to give our residents the recreation center and library they deserve,” Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield said. “This will allow us to continue our vision of creating a true city center, including the police department, city hall, senior center, entertainment options and future recreation center and library.”

The new library will offer nearly three times the amount of space of the Albert L. Scott Library—providing room for greatly expanded collections, library programming and community events. The new library will be located next to the new recreation center which is designed to include two floors with a main lobby, multiple indoor courts, event and meeting space, an indoor walking track, a workout and fitness area and an outdoor pool and splash pad.

Alabaster set asides $5 million in its fiscal year 2025 budget to begin construction on the new recreation center and library. The city also had an issuance of $80 million of bonds for the project’s construction.

If the current projected timeline does not face any delays, the city plans on build out of the project being completed in December 2026 with Alabaster opening up the facility in Spring 2027.

In addition to the new library and rec center, an unannounced project is planned to also be located on the corner of Highway 119 and Thompson Road. The location was previously targeted for a mixed-use development. Further information will be released as it becomes available at Shelbycountyreporter.com.