BETHEL PARK, Pa. – Bethel Park School District recently released the latest renderings of its planned elementary school as steel beams rise on the new facility being built on the Neil Armstrong Middle School campus.

The decision to build a new elementary center and renovate Independence Middle School followed a 2021 demographic analysis and facilities master plan. Community concerns about uneven enrollment and the need for significant capital improvements to existing decades-old facilities drove the project forward.

The groundbreaking 280,000-square-foot school will feature a three-story design, two gymnasiums, two playgrounds, three STEAM labs, and two libraries, accommodating up to 1,800 students. Its layout and design features customize the needs of primary (K-2) and intermediate (3-5) students while fostering collaboration among staff and eliminating building-to-building travel for special-subject teachers. The school is also being built with 21st-century safety and security measures in mind.

“This project will have a lasting impact on our community, and I am thrilled to share these latest images of the space that will shape the future of our students,” said Bethel Park School District Superintendent Dr. James Walsh. “In a few short years, this cutting-edge facility will provide an innovative learning environment, offering students unique educational opportunities and a strong foundation for success.”

Designed by Mt. Lebanon-based DRAW Collective, the facility will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, collaborative spaces, and a 300-seat large group instruction area. Rycon Construction is the general contractor, and Massaro Construction Group is the construction manager.

Renderings also highlight how natural colors and elements of nature support the building’s national park theme and support wayfinding to respective learning spaces within the school.

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