Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Springfield Breaks Ground on $53.7M Pipkin Middle School Rebuild

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/10/25

Construction is underway on a new, state-of-the-art Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, Mo., a major step in Springfield Public Schools’ (SPS) long-term facility improvement plan, according to local news. The $53.7-million project officially broke ground in early June, following years of planning and community input aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure and addressing student capacity concerns.

Located near the existing Pipkin site, the new 114,750-square-foot facility will accommodate up to 725 students and is designed with collaborative learning spaces, modern technology integration, and enhanced security features. The project replaces the current Pipkin building, originally constructed in 1925 and suffering from extensive wear and outdated systems.

The school’s construction is part of the voter-approved Proposition S, a $220-million bond measure passed in 2019. In total, the bond supports the replacement or renovation of several SPS facilities, with Pipkin’s rebuild among the largest. Superintendent Grenita Lathan noted the project's alignment with districtwide goals of improving educational equity and modernizing learning environments.

The new school, being built on property formerly used for district facilities and maintenance, is slated for completion by fall 2026. Crossland Construction is serving as general contractor, with design by Paragon Architecture, according to the Springfield Daily Citizen.

With groundbreaking complete, the focus now shifts to foundational work and vertical construction, which is expected to accelerate throughout the summer. The project represents a key investment in the future of Springfield’s educational infrastructure and reflects broader trends in middle school design that emphasize flexibility, student well-being, and safety.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Opportunity by Design Framework

    Opportunity by Design

    Educational improvement efforts often focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and intervention systems while treating the physical school building as background. But school design is not a passive backdrop to learning — it is a structural lever for equity.

  • University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

    The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.

  • Esports are Growing in Popularity

    Video games and esports are a popular social hobby, and it’s one that’s accessible to a wide variety of physical ability levels. Some esport student-athletes have started to earn scholarship opportunities, and high schools are beginning to form teams equipped with the same degree of resources as their physical sports teams. However, the two have very different needs.