Architects show designs for new Columbia middle school
A new middle school is Columbia should hold 700 students for classes, according to the architects who designed it.
PWArchitects showed off its work on a southwest middle school Monday night. Firm president Chris Davis said the school should hold 700 students for daily classes, but could fit 800 students in total.
CPS moved up the opening date of the middle school to 2020 as overcrowding continues to be an issue at its one middle school south of Stadium Boulevard. The district is targeting land on Sinclair Road for the new school.
The half of the building nearest the parking lot will feature the gym and performing arts center. Two stories of classrooms are further back, and staff will have the ability to close off that half after hours. Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said that allowed for a more accessible feel to the public, allowing easy access to the popular facilities, while also protecting the class space.
Davis said a “flex room” near the gym will serve as one of the building’s two storm shelters. Columbia city rules require schools to have them. The school’s classroom for students with physical and mental disabilities will also double as a storm shelter. Davis said that stops students who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to get across the entire building in case of an emergency.
“Columbia Public Schools probably isn’t too unique from other school districts,” Davis told ABC 17 News. “They started taking into account electronic cameras and surveillance, as well as lockdowns, and control of the door systems, so we incorporate those things, too.”
Matt Pitzer, a Columbia City Council member, said he enjoyed the simplicity of the school’s design. The three main hallways make it seem easy to navigate, and allow for safer navigation of the school, Pitzer said. The city councilman said that he still wanted to accelerate improvements to Sinclair Road ahead of the school’s scheduled opening, including sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
“We don’t want everybody in their cars, we want to get people out of their cars and be able to bike and walk, and right now, Sinclair is basically an unimproved road,” Pitzer said.
