BCSC unveils design, name for new westside elementary school

The design of the new Bartholomew Consolidated Schools’ elementary was unveiled last night, along with its new name: Maple Grove Elementary.

The school district and its architects Höweler + Yoon of Boston revealed designs for a two story building laid out like a combination of a flowered petal design and a hand, with entrances and exits at the crux where the fingers or petals meet. Inside it includes a large central open space atrium.

Eric Höweler explains

Classrooms each have large windows with each having expansive views of the surrounding woods.

Höweler explains

The new school will be the district’s 12th elementary and is meant to address the population growth on the west and south side of Columbus. It will hold about 650 students and is to be built along Tipton Lakes Boulevard.

Dr. Chad Phillips, BCSC’s superintendent, said that the new school would free up space to allow the expansion of special classrooms such as STEM labs across the school district.

Assistant Superintendent for finance Brett Bozeman said that the construction will take place without an increase in the district’s tax rate.

The school district plans to open the bidding process in late June and to begin construction in August. The process of redistricting the existing schools and moving families into the new school will be late 2026 and early 2027. The building is expected to open in the summer of 2027.