SPOKANE — Adams Elementary will reach a significant construction milestone Thursday when crews, staff, and students gather to sign the final beam before it’s hoisted into place during a topping out ceremony.
The event, scheduled for 4 p.m., marks a turning point for the reconstruction project that broke ground this spring. Spokane Public Schools says the ceremony serves as both a celebration and a teaching moment, demonstrating to students the community’s investment in their school.
Together Spokane, a partnership between Spokane Public Schools and Spokane Parks and Recreation, funds the Adams Elementary rebuild. Two multi-million-dollar ballot measures support the initiative, which includes more than 200 projects planned over the next 20 years across Spokane.
Of all the Together Spokane projects currently underway, Adams Elementary has demonstrated some of the most visible progress.
“We have incredible local architects; thousands of subcontractors will work on that building before it opens for the first day of school. That is part of the Together Spokane initiative promise, that it is an investment back into our local economy,” said Adam Swinyard, superintendent of Spokane Public Schools.
The original Adams Elementary building, which served as Spokane’s oldest school, was more than a century old. The new facility will feature improved efficiency and accessibility compared to the original structure, according to SPS. The building will also include dedicated space for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County.
Construction crews plan to focus on enclosing the building during the winter months. The project remains under budget and on schedule to welcome students when the next school year begins in fall 2027.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

