Phase one of a nearly $180 million project at Albany High School is nearly complete.

Construction on this part of the multi-year renovation started nearly two years ago. It includes a new three-story academic building in the back of the existing school.

The building offers 71 classrooms including five computer labs, resource rooms and group breakout rooms equipped with state of the art technology. The added space will help expand the school’s capacity to about 3,000 students from roughly 2,500.

District officials say the added space and upgrades are needed as enrollment continues to grow.

“All of our teachers have their own learning space for our students,” said Albany City Schools Superintendent Kaweeda Adams. “Students can have a home when they go to receive that learning from that teacher.”

Work on phase two, which includes construction of another new building in the old Washington Avenue parking lot, is underway. It’s expected to be ready for students in the fall.

The latter phases of this seven-year-long project include the renovation of the auditorium, a new elevated jogging track in the gym, the enclosure of the courtyard, and the complete renovation of AHS’ current academic building.

The project is expected to be finished in 2025.