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Photos by Travis Wachter | Northside High School

When William Fleming High School students started school Sept. 8 they were in for surprises with the new building.

The $57 million project was completed "under budget and on time," said Ruth Claytor, an assistant principal.

The building features wide hallways, classrooms and a new cafeteria, referred to as the Colonels' Cafe.

In addition to a new gym, the Roanoke school also has a visual and performance arts wing that has a 450-seat auditorium and black-box theater.

In the past, William Fleming High School students and teachers were scattered in five separate buildings for classes, with long walks between each.

However, when students started school Sept. 8 they were in for some welcome surprises with the completion of the new two-story building where everything is housed under one roof.

The building features wide hallways, classrooms and a new cafeteria, referred to as the Colonels' Cafe. The old buildings are currently in the process of being demolished, and only a few are still standing.

As about 1,400 students took their first steps into the new school, the differences between the new and old campuses were evident to students and teachers.

"I like the fact that because we're all in one big building I'm always running into other teachers," said Jackie O'Neill, the International Baccalaureate coordinator and government teacher.

O'Neill said the old campus setup made it harder to see other faculty members outside of the hall buildings where their classrooms were located.

Students and teachers are excited about the new school features, including the better-marked parking lot situated closer to the front doors.

The Roanoke school also has a visual and performance arts wing that has a 450-seat auditorium and black-box theater.

"I am so happy we finally got a new school," said Ashley Murphy, a junior. "I hope the stadium comes quickly."

The stadium will be the first home stadium that William Fleming High School has had. It is scheduled to be ready by the 2010-11 school year and will be located in the area on the old campus that used to be the main office building.

Some students did find drawbacks with the new school setup.

Senior Aaron Colston said, "It's hard to believe that we started in five scattered buildings. I'm going to miss the familiarity and ability to breathe between classes," he said about the old campus style.

Senior Jessica Chen thinks the new building feels more like a prison because it makes being outside between classes much harder.

"Some of the classrooms are smaller," she said. "And there are windows but you can't open them."

Despite this, Chen likes some aspects of the building's features.

"I like the size of the library," she said. "It's more open." Chen also said the carpeted rooms are appealing and so are the desks that haven't been marked on.

Sarah Lee, a former student at William Fleming High School who is now in her fourth year of teaching at the school, is pleased with the new building.

"The kids have more space," Lee said. "I would not trade this room for my old room."

Students and teachers said they also are excited that the new school is finished.

The $57 million project was completed "under budget and on time," said Ruth Claytor, an assistant principal.

"I haven't heard a negative thing," Claytor said. "You have to be able to be proud of something in your life. When you take pride, you take ownership and that makes you really appreciate what you have, and I think that's what our students need."

Senior Elise White believes the new building could help motivate students.

"I feel like it was time for a change," White said. "And having a new building and fresh start may aid us on the way to a better academic future."