Cornelius Elementary School (2024-25)
Design Gallery
July 15, 2024 - Preparing for Next Round of Footings
![aerial view of construction site](https://3.files.edl.io/230d/24/07/17/171436-68679603-eac0-457d-9790-8266922feed4.jpg)
![laying more utility pipe](https://3.files.edl.io/4610/24/07/17/172053-f95b6c58-0c4d-40f6-a576-248d9b8ce665.jpg)
![utility pipe ready to be placed](https://3.files.edl.io/28e2/24/07/17/172222-d76fecb3-7c5b-49b9-bdd7-5c58748f74f5.jpg)
![footing prepped for plinth beams](https://3.files.edl.io/99fc/24/07/17/171917-6c43f5e2-11a7-40cc-a377-6e997d4a4b0b.jpg)
![crew excavates a trench for a footing](https://3.files.edl.io/8060/24/07/17/172022-4591d208-94c6-4b1e-823a-cf0673459ca3.jpg)
July 10, 2024 - Utility Trench Work Continues
![aerial view of utility trench](https://3.files.edl.io/fa44/24/07/17/171007-5903f3eb-e335-4d9d-bda0-b60251a92d85.jpg)
![aerial view of construction site](https://3.files.edl.io/3ada/24/07/17/171030-5b49fdc9-8775-43fa-8ca6-547ec791799b.jpg)
July 3, 2024 - Utility Trenching Underway
![Site construction](https://3.files.edl.io/1d52/24/07/09/193954-2af68c3f-7b27-4c66-80e6-2940023539f1.jpg)
![View of site construction from west](https://3.files.edl.io/5331/24/07/09/194709-bd70ca7c-002d-4ddf-83c1-b51fec7d9c32.jpg)
![Pipe installation in utility trench](https://3.files.edl.io/a4b6/24/07/09/194057-874672f5-66f3-417e-875d-742a80843abe.jpg)
June 24, 2024 - Concrete Pour for Footings
June 18, 2024 - Completing Concrete Froms
![aerial view of footing forms](https://3.files.edl.io/6440/24/06/20/160114-b63b1594-48c7-464b-818a-dceea6a9db1d.jpg)
![checking on forms](https://3.files.edl.io/0043/24/06/20/160144-c0b3c6fb-f9ab-4b52-8e06-6d5b1ac76166.jpg)
![footing form](https://3.files.edl.io/d88c/24/06/20/160208-340ad7e8-08e9-4f0c-a6ae-31fa6a89025d.jpg)
June 12, 2024 - Preparing Forms for Concrete Footings
![aerial view of excavated footings](https://3.files.edl.io/031f/24/06/13/212853-2222b36d-b66e-4ed0-b0a7-4cb40ea5da46.jpg)
![framing for elevator shaft base](https://3.files.edl.io/661e/24/06/13/212934-1877c64d-c92b-471c-82f1-64ebc4e8f0d4.jpg)
![framing for gym/commons footing](https://3.files.edl.io/ef6f/24/06/13/212959-ae831728-f2eb-45f8-af94-64dea2078e7a.jpg)
June 5, 2024 - Footing Work Continues
![aerial view of excavated footings](https://3.files.edl.io/3d47/24/06/11/172900-a1cdb6b0-ded3-4d58-bd8f-7a5b32c9501d.jpg)
![aerial view of building base](https://3.files.edl.io/d83a/24/06/11/172927-ea594775-0e43-4d8e-8915-3fb16ae027d3.jpg)
May 29, 2024 - Excavation for Footings Begins
![aerial view of excavation work](https://3.files.edl.io/d041/24/06/04/182714-7b2a271a-4361-452e-ab33-edd5fc52f277.jpg)
![digging trenches for footings](https://3.files.edl.io/8b7b/24/06/04/182738-3a92b22d-a5ae-4a6b-80cc-3ee0ada9c5fb.jpg)
May 22, 2024 - Base Grading Completed
![site grading](https://3.files.edl.io/2e6f/24/06/04/182103-20ad0804-bf11-41b0-a599-eed1fde1c21e.jpg)
![heavy equipment lined up on site](https://3.files.edl.io/b866/24/06/04/182126-20b35519-8a6f-4e70-b363-e5116d22cf69.jpg)
May 14, 2024 - Grading Work
![grading work](https://3.files.edl.io/40d7/24/05/17/191356-bcb26b57-cfea-46c9-aa71-0254ff7150ee.jpg)
![grading for building and parking lots](https://3.files.edl.io/d667/24/05/17/191452-b8acd98c-f17e-4308-bb68-92f4f5c854b0.jpg)
May 7, 2024 - Excavation Has Begun
![excavation of site](https://3.files.edl.io/c4e5/24/05/08/164605-aa9c75c5-2b06-411b-ab15-df61af71e0e7.jpg)
![aerial view of construction site](https://3.files.edl.io/6c00/24/05/08/164639-e4088ef1-2d4c-4e37-ab3e-80b1ba11339e.jpg)
April 3, 2024 - Groundbreaking Ceremony
April 3, 2024 - Groundbreaking Highlights
March 13, 2024 - Safety Fencing Installed
![Safety fencing](https://3.files.edl.io/9a6a/24/03/14/172701-106c04e2-8be1-40bc-ab54-f86611b2292e.jpg)
Feb. 21, 2024 - Final Designs Presented
FGSD's design consultant, Mahlum Architects, recently released the final design renderings in February 2024 for the new building to replace the existing Cornelius Elementary School.
The new Cornelius Elementary will be a two-story building constructed at the rear of the current campus, with a capacity of 500 pre-K to grade 4 students. An entry plaza and expansive lobby area are sited at the main entrance. The school community will enjoy its new gym, cafeteria and commons area, family activity area, and library. Four interior activity areas, within each of the second-floor classroom wings, enable students to partake in group learning and other activities. An outdoor classroom further extends the educational space. Installation of modern classroom technology will provide enriched learning in this digital age.
Students will stay active on pre-K and regular playgrounds as well as a new playfield. Safety and security measures are incorporated throughout, including electronic key card access, video doorbell at the entry, security cameras, alarms, and monitoring. Key safety features are the building’s construction to modern immediate occupancy seismic standards and the separation of the bus loop from the parent dropoff and parking area to enhance safety of pedestrians and vehicles.
The District is planning to keep the current gym and cafeteria spaces and demolish the remainder of the building. Staff is currently in discussions with the City of Cornelius to purchase these spaces for a possible community center.
Pence Construction is the general contractor for this bond project. The project budget is $48 million, funded from the $121.9 million bond approved by voters in November 2022. Construction is officially set to begin with a groundbreaking event on Wednesday, April 3, at 3:45 p.m., to which the community is invited. The new campus will be completed in August 2025, and open to students for their first day of school in September 2025.