Eastern Elementary School’s new multi-purpose building is complete and ready for the upcoming school year.

The new building has been in the works for about two years, and A.R. Chesson Construction Co. officially broke ground in December 2015.

The project was originally estimated to cost more than $808,000 to complete. Beaufort County Schools also purchased chairs and dollies for the building through a state contract totaling close to $25,000, according to the latest capital project documents.

At a Board of Education meeting in late June, Auxiliary Services Director Stan Hudson said the finishing touches were being put in place, and the certificate of operation was secured.

Eastern Elementary staff was able to use the building for a faculty dinner at the end of this past school year, but Hudson said it hadn’t been approved for student use at that time.

Principal Melissa Dana said the last thing now is installing a fire door, and that process was expected to be complete at the end of this week or early next week.

She said the staff is excited to have its new building and plans to use it for physical education classes, assemblies and faculty meetings.

“We’re looking forward to being able to do that,” Dana said.

She said the school has previous used the cafeteria for its assemblies and meetings, but the staff is ready to have a better space to use.

“This is a little more formal setting for that,” Dana said.

After the last tweaks are made, the school will host an official ribbon cutting to celebrate the occasion, and the building will be ready for students to pour in come August.

“In essence, it’s completed,” Dana said. “It’s exciting for all of us.”