New Missouri Elementary Features Collaborative Spaces for Each Grade Level

Renderings and floor plans of a new elementary school were shared in the last Washington School District board meeting. The new, two-story elementary school will replace South Point Elementary and is funded by Prop S, a $26 million bond issue approved in April.

Bond Architects and Washington Engineering gave a presentation to board members on the project. The 78,000-square-foot building will be “angular with both rustic and industrial flair inside and out featuring a dynamic color scheme,” Superintendent Dr. Lori VanLeer, told a local newspaper. The school will feature collaborative spaces for each grade level with books available to check out in each space in addition to a library/makerspace with space for full class instruction and room to build projects.

Classrooms for kindergarten through second grade will be on the first floor with third through sixth grade on the second level. The gym, located on the main floor in the center of the building, will also be a storm shelter with adjacent bathrooms and a backup generator.

Construction bids will go out in early January and a contract will be awarded in late January or early February with construction beginning in the spring of 2020.

The new school is estimated to cost $23 to $24 million and slated to open in August 2021.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.