Northampton County · Palmer Township · #2026-05-easton-area-high-school-phase-2-rebuild
Easton Area High School Phase 2 rebuild
2601 William Penn Highway, Palmer Township, PA · 250,444 sq ft non-residential, school
About this project
The Easton Area School District plans to demolish its current high school at 2601 William Penn Highway and replace it with a new 250,444 sq ft building, plus new parking lots. The site keeps its two existing access points, from South 25th Street and William Penn Highway.
County recommendation: Supports, with comments
Issues raised: Turning templates needed for emergency and bus access, More crosswalks and sidewalks across the campus, No bicycle parking provided, Naturalized stormwater basin and native landscaping, Route 22 noise and dark-sky lighting near homes
- Applicant
- Easton Area School District
- Engineer / designer
- Colliers Engineering and Design
- Plan type
- Land use of regional significance (educational facilities)
- Land use
- school
Filing history
- 2026-05-26 · #2026-05-easton-area-high-school-phase-2-rebuild · Land use of regional significance (educational facilities) · 250,444 sq ft
Map pin is approximate.
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
The Easton Area School District plans to replace its high school at 2601 William Penn Highway in Palmer Township. The new building would be about 250,000 square feet, with new parking lots. The current school, which opened in 1959, would be demolished once the new one is finished. Local news reports describe the new building going up on the existing campus, in the area now used for athletic fields.
The work is staged. Phase 1 is a new athletic complex on the western part of the campus. Phase 2, the subject of this record, is the school building itself. News coverage from late 2025 gave a slightly smaller size of about 241,000 square feet and a target completion of July 2031. The county filing lists a larger figure, so the design may have changed. Reported costs ranged from roughly $290 million to $320 million.
The township planning commission tabled the combined land development plan in December 2025. It cited open questions on testing, a carbon report and traffic. No later outcome was found online.
What it could mean nearby
- Traffic: the county record says the site keeps two existing entrances, on South 25th Street and William Penn Highway. News reports say the district wants to separate buses from cars.
- The township asked for a traffic study covering the William Penn Highway and 25th Street intersection, including possible pedestrian upgrades.
- Schools: the current building is reported to be over capacity, and the new one is meant to relieve that.
- Construction: demolition and building work would run for several years, with a reported completion target of mid-2031.
Where it stands
As of the latest available reports, the plan had been tabled by the Palmer Township Planning Commission in December 2025 and the district planned to return in early 2026. The county filing dated May 2026 suggests review is continuing. After planning commission review, a plan usually goes to the township supervisors for a vote.
- Jul 2031 Reported target for completing the new high school
- May 26, 2026 Latest county filing for the Phase 2 high school rebuild
- Dec 2025 Palmer Township Planning Commission tabled the land development plan, citing traffic and testing items
- Oct 14, 2025 Planning commission reviewed a sketch plan for the new high school without taking formal action
Want to weigh in? The Palmer Township Planning Commission reviews the plan next, then the township supervisors; residents can comment at their public meetings, and the Easton Area School Board also meets publicly.
Who's behind it
Easton Area School District · A public school district serving Easton and surrounding communities. Colliers Engineering and Design is the engineering firm on the filing.
Around the web
- Palmer commission pauses EAHS athletic complex planWFMZ · Dec 10, 2025The planning commission tabled the two-phase plan, and the article lists the school's size, traffic requests and the July 2031 target.
- Palmer commission reviews sketch plan for new EAHSWFMZ · Oct 14, 2025The commission reviewed an early sketch plan for the new high school without a vote.
- EASD settles on site for new high school, but price point remains a top concernLehigh Valley NewsThe school board chose a site on the current campus, with cost as a main concern.
Planning terms explained
- Sketch plan
- An early, informal drawing shown to the township for feedback, with no vote.
- Land development plan
- A detailed site plan showing buildings, parking, drainage and access that the township must approve.
- Tabled
- A board postpones a decision to a later meeting, often until more information is provided.
- Traffic study
- An analysis of how a project will affect nearby roads, intersections and pedestrians.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $87.7M
- ~1,252 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~626 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
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