The new Windber Area Middle/High School is open. Students and teachers walked into the completed building Thursday for the first time.

The $26 million building features a new library, cafeteria and science and innovation labs.

The school’s superintendent said everyone is happy to finally have a place to call their own. 

“To see the students’ faces when they came in yesterday and their excitement and their wide eyes and jaws dropping and them saying, ‘Hey, look at this and look at that’. That was truly rewarding,” said Joe Kimmel, Superintendent of the Windber Area School District.

The official building dedication won’t take place until March, after the performing arts center and the fitness area are complete. Until then, school officials are hosting an open house on Sunday, February 26th to give parents and the community a look at the new building.