The new Roxbury Elementary School will increase capacity from 500 to 850 students and expand grade levels served through eighth grade. | Photo Credit:听听TSKP Studio听
By Lindsey Coulter听
STAMFORD, Conn. 鈥� Stamford officials have approved plans for construction of听the听new Roxbury Elementary School, advancing one of the city鈥檚 largest K-12 capital projects as part of听the听broader,听$1.5 billion听Stamford Public Schools Long-term Facilities Plan听to improve facilities across the city.听
The Stamford Planning Board voted Dec. 19 to approve the project, which will replace the existing 70-year-old Roxbury Elementary School. The new facility is being funded in part through House Bill 7288, which provides significant state support for school construction projects across Connecticut.听The project鈥檚 next steps include a bid-authorization meeting with state officials, along with final approvals听required听from city and state agencies.听
In December 2022, the state increased its reimbursement rate for eligible school construction projects to 60%, up from 20%, a change that will apply to the new Roxbury K-8 school. Roxbury was added to the state鈥檚 priority list that same month, and formal design work began in December 2023.听Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, with the school now slated to open during the 2028-29 school year. Earlier projections had targeted occupancy in the 2027-28 school year, but听the听building听timeline has听been extended by rising听construction听costs.听Another significant project now underway,听Westhill High School,听was听initially estimated at $301 million听but听has听seen its projected cost increase to $461 million. Similarly, the Roxbury Elementary School project was first budgeted at $86 million when announced in 2022 and is now estimated at $130 million.听
The new Roxbury Elementary School will increase capacity from 500 to 850 students and expand grade levels served through eighth grade. In addition to addressing long-standing maintenance and repair issues, the听school will be organized around nine learning pods, each dedicated to a听specific听grade, where students will spend the majority of their school day听to reduce听circulation.听All pods will听include听restrooms and breakout spaces and听will be connected by a central corridor.听The project听also听includes听a听shared media center, cafeteria and library as well as a听modern gymnasium听that will conserve square footage by also serving as a performance space.听In addition to new听outdoor play areas,听the project will include听sustainability upgrades, such as the听installation of geothermal听wells,听expanded parking capacity,听and safer school听bus听and parent pickup loops.听听
The existing K-5 Roxbury Elementary School will remain in operation throughout听the construction听of the new building.听The project will require the demolition of several portable structures that have been used as temporary classrooms for decades to address overcrowding. Once the new facility is operational, the existing school building will be demolished.听
The project team includes TSKP Studio as architect, O&G Industries as construction manager, and Arcadis U.S. Inc. providing project management services.听Program planning for the new Roxbury school is complete, and design work is currently underway.听听