Imagine the future of The Columbus School, elementary students running to their new classrooms, middle school students doing research in a new, modern library, high school students organizing tennis tournaments on new tennis courts.  All of these things will be a reality in just a few years.

Since the transfer of the school from Robledo to Las Palmas many projects have been designed for campus growth. While some of these plans have changed throughout the years, like the construction of a swimming pool, several projects are scheduled to be built in the next few years. These projects consist of expanding the Elementary School, Middle School, and High School, athletic facilities, a new library and adminsitration offices.

“There is nothing new here. We are talking about construction planned since 2002,” Juan Fernando Mesa, TCS Maintenance Director, said.

Elementary School

The school has been adding classrooms to the Elementary School for several years now. Since 2010, one new classroom has been added to each grade level from K4 through 5th grade, to be completed this summer. The project adds seven classrooms in total, and each room has a capacity of 22 students.  

Middle School

After construction ends on classroom 5F, the school will turn it’s attention to Middle School. Since the inclusion of F classrooms will add 12 more students per grade, Middle School will need four additional classrooms. 

These four classrooms will be constructed in the current administration building, forcing the school to build a new administration section next to the arts building. Construction on the new administration offices will begin in June of 2018. The accommodation of classrooms in the administration offices will be ready before students return from vacation in August 2018.

The school will build normal classes, as well as science labs in the administration building to deal with the lack of science-based classroom space in Middle School.

“I think it’s a great project, especially because right now we’re lacking of science classes, and the middle school science department is missing a lot materials to allow us to teach better science,” Juan Sebastián Cardona 7th grade Life Science teacher said, “Having an actual building where the science classes are taught in science labs will allow us to have more hands-on experiences for the kids.”

High School

With the changes in Middle School and Elementary School, the school will also need to expand High School’s capacity. Three new classrooms will be added in order to cope with the additional students coming from Middle School. Similarly to what Middle School will do, High School will use the current library space to accommodate new classrooms.

Consequently a new library will be built next to the arts building and the proposed administration building. Construction on the new library and the adaptation of the new classrooms will begin in June 2021.

“I like the idea of having a new library near Middle School,” 7th grader Julia Medina said, “For us it’s very annoying to go to high school every time we need something in the library, especially when I need to print something.”

Sports

Aside from the expansion in school buildings, five new multi-sports courts are also planned. These courts will be built in the natural corridor between the upper school cafeteria and the baseball field. The first court, a synthetic soccer field, begins construction in the next few weeks.

“The paperwork is almost complete and next to the paved court, goes the first synthetic soccer field,” Mesa said.

Other Projects

Parents, teachers and students have struggled with the traffic problems entering and exiting campus for years.  The school hasn’t made a final decsion on how to solve the problem of road infrastructure on campus because of multiple planned projects by the city of Envigado that may have an effect on the school’s property.

“There are some ideas, but nothing is concrete right now.” Mesa said this with reference to any projects involving road infrastructure.

The school is also looking into the future and possible expansion of  the campus with two lots to the east of the entrance.

“There are two lots that interest us, but there is no money to buy them,” Mesa said.

The school is focusing on the expansion of their campus structures before negotiating any lot expansions. All current projects are set for completion prior to 2021. Other projects, such as campus access and additional land are just propsals.

“It’s all set for 2021.” Mesa stated.