Norwin planning for stadium demolition

Norwin officials are expected to get an update this week on the plan to demolish the high school stadium, with work set to begin in November. This is part of a $25 million renovation project that is scheduled to be completed in June 2027.

Superintendent Natalie McCracken said a meeting with the contractor is scheduled for Wednesday to review the site and finalize project plans. She told the school board Monday that they will discuss changes to traffic patterns and parking due to construction equipment, as well as a safety and signage plan.

“We’re trying to plan as much as possible, know things in advance, and then be able to communicate those to families,” McCracken said.

The demolition won’t begin until after all fall sports seasons are complete. If any Norwin team hosts a home playoff game in November, the project start date will be delayed. The district will not host any WPIAL playoff games that do not involve a Norwin team.

Because of the construction, teams that use the stadium in the spring will have to relocate, as will all teams using the stadium for the entire 2026-2027 school year.

According to McCracken, Athletic Director Mike Burrell and other administrators are working with nearby districts to find alternate playing sites. Burrell said the first priority is finding fields for the winter track team, as well as the middle and high school track teams and the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams that play in the winter and spring.

The district hopes to rent facilities from neighboring school districts such as Penn-Trafford, Hempfield Area, Yough and East Allegheny, depending on availability. Burrell noted that Norwin would have to schedule games around the home district’s use of the fields. They may also be able to use municipal fields.

Some team practices could be held at other fields within the district, including outdoor fields and indoor facilities at Hahntown Elementary School, McCracken said. To accommodate community groups that use the Hahntown facilities, the district is trying to make its other three elementary schools available for more hours.

“The entire project… it is going to be disruptive. It’s going to create situations that are less than ideal,” McCracken said.

In April, the school board awarded a $19.98 million general construction contract to R.A. Glancy & Sons Inc. of Pine, one of several contracts for the project. Rob Glancy, the project manager, could not be reached for comment.