COLUMBIA, MO — The joint venture team of Reinhardt Construction LLC of Columbia, Missouri, and S. M. Wilson & Co. (Reinhardt/Wilson) has completed construction of Columbia Public Schools’ new $36 million Eagle Bluffs Elementary School. The two-story, 76,500-square-foot school was designed to accommodate up to 750 students and 150 staff members, providing capacity for enrollment growth in southwest Columbia. Eagle Bluffs is the 22nd elementary school in the district, which serves more than 18,300 students.
The construction project was funded by a 2022 no-tax-rate-increase bond referendum to improve and expand district facilities. Reinhardt/Wilson was the construction manager at risk for the bond program, and the architects were DLR Group and SOA Architecture. Other bond program projects included a 26,465-square-foot addition at the Columbia Area Career Center and two new educational wings at Battle Elementary.
The new elementary school features modern learning spaces with five to six classrooms arranged into small learning pods around a central collaborative area. The six nature-themed pods — field, lake, cave, city, prairie, and woodlands — reflect environmental features found at the nearby Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. A two-story innovation lab was built for science, engineering, and robotics programming.
"Eagle Bluffs is a beautiful example of what’s possible with planning, innovation, and — most importantly — community support," Columbia Board of Education President John Lyman said.
The new gymnasium is an ICC 500-rated storm shelter constructed to withstand winds up to 250 mph, providing the highest level of protection for students and staff during severe weather. Building security features include secure entry points, bullet-resistant glass, and fob-access doors into learning pods.
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"As I look around this beautiful building, I am reminded that schools are never made simply of bricks, concrete, and steel. They are built through visions, dedication, collaboration, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves an exceptional place to learn," said Principal Sarah Sicht at the ribbon cutting.
Reinhardt Construction and S. M. Wilson formed a joint venture in 1992 to pursue building opportunities in the mid-Missouri area. S. M. Wilson has worked in partnership with 46 school districts in Missouri and Illinois, including Hallsville R-IV School District, Jefferson City School District, Ladue School District, Winfield R-IV School District, and Pattonville R-III School District, among others.
