Columbia leaders break ground on new Islamic school

Work has now started on the new Islamic school in downtown Columbia near Fifth and Locust streets. City officials were at the ground-breaking ceremony Friday, including Mayor McDavid.

The facility will include a full-time elementary, but it will also have many areas and serve several purposes, everything from a commercial gym to a free health clinic. The building will be roughly 100 feet by 100 feet, on two separate levels.

“The classrooms will be above and below, and wrap around a central community center, gymnasium, multipurpose space,” says Michael McNutt, construction manager.

Crews are expected to officially start sometime next week. The new building should be done in about one year.