Minecraft Helps Students Design Johns Island Rec Center
Haut Gap Middle School students used Minecraft to design the Johns Island Recreation Center, presented to City Council on 2025-12-16.
Students from Haut Gap Middle School designed the upcoming Johns Island Recreation Center using Minecraft. The virtual project allowed them to consider real-world limitations and creatively use blocks to represent planned features for the 50,000-square-foot facility.
Key facts
- Students designed the center using Minecraft, guided by teacher Brett Sheridan.
- The presentation to City Council occurred on 2025-12-16 near Maybank Highway and Main Road.
- Planned features include a 25-meter pool, therapy pool, courts for various sports, and a playground.
- The design competition lasted a month and involved multiple classes.
- Construction is funded by a $70 million bond referendum, with work possibly starting in October 2025.
Impact / What's next
The innovative approach teaches students practical skills in design and engineering. City officials, including Councilman Jim McBride, praised their creativity and are considering some student suggestions for the center, such as a dog park. The project demonstrates how video games like Minecraft can be valuable educational tools. Sheridan intends to repeat the initiative, providing more students with similar opportunities in the future.