CPS Southwest Elementary School

Project Overview

Emery Sapp & Sons successfully completed the civil site construction for a new elementary school in southwest Columbia, Missouri, located adjacent to John Warner Middle School. The project commenced in April 2024 and delivered a 75,500-square-foot facility designed to support 750 students and 140 staff members. The completed site features a dedicated car drop-off lane with the capacity to stack more than 65 vehicles, a 165-space parking lot, three age-appropriate playgrounds, and a multi-purpose field.

ESS performed extensive site preparation and infrastructure improvements throughout the project. Work included excavating 33,320 cubic yards of earth, placing 5,000 square yards of concrete paving, and constructing more than 33,000 linear feet of sidewalks. The scope also encompassed the installation of 387 linear feet of water lines and the widening of Sinclair Road to safely accommodate increased traffic volumes. To ensure long-term structural stability, a 44-inch layer of Low Volume Change (LVC) material was placed beneath the building pad.

The project presented several logistical challenges, including the coordination of Sinclair Road lane widening during school breaks to maintain student safety and minimize disruption. Managing a large, active site with multiple subcontractors required detailed planning and collaboration to prevent schedule conflicts. Safety remained a top priority throughout construction, supported by daily Task Hazard Analyses and weekly toolbox talks.