The approximately $56 million project calls for a single 110,000-square-foot building, with each school occupying about 55,000 square feet. | Photo Credit: First Team Inc.
By Lindsey Coulter
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. 鈥� Huntsville City Schools has broken ground on a new shared campus that will house two rebuilt elementary schools, marking a major milestone in the district鈥檚 10-year capital plan.
The project will replace Montview Elementary School and the Academy for Science and Foreign Language (ASFL) Elementary, a citywide STEM magnet program that will be reimagined and renamed when it moves to the new site. The campus will be constructed on Montview Elementary鈥檚 existing property, transforming the 18-acre site into a modern facility serving both neighborhood and magnet students.
The approximately $56 million project calls for a single 110,000-square-foot building, with each school occupying about 55,000 square feet. Both schools will serve students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, and the campus is expected to open in August 2027.
Although they will share a building, the schools will operate in dedicated spaces tailored to their instructional needs. Montview Elementary will continue serving the Lee High School feeder pattern and include specialized classrooms, flex labs, a full-size gym, safe rooms and multiple age-appropriate playgrounds.
The new STEM magnet school will support students from across Huntsville and feature STEM laboratories, interactive teaching walls, flexible learning rooms and multi-use spaces aligned with its curriculum.
鈥淭his groundbreaking represents our promise in Huntsville City Schools to deliver the very best for students, and progress is already happening inside our classrooms each and every day,鈥� Superintendent Dr. Clarence Sutton said. 鈥淥n the recent state report cards, Montview Elementary rose to a B, and ASFL Elementary rose to an A. Our capital plan and strategic plan are working hand-in-hand to support students and empower teachers.鈥�
The district credited its project partners, including architect McMillan Pazdan Smith, TCU Consulting Services and contractor First Team Inc.
District leaders said the campus will honor Montview鈥檚 long-standing presence while creating an innovative environment for future generations. The effort is part of Huntsville City Schools鈥� wider plan to modernize learning facilities and expand academic opportunities across the system.
McMillan Pazdan Smith is serving as architect for the $49.8 million construction contract. Max White is the project manager, and Randy Jones will serve as superintendent for the build.
This marks the second significant construction milestone for HCS in 2025, as HCS opened its new central office and Huntsville Center for Technology campus in August. The $60 million investment aims to strengthen district operations and expand career training opportunities for students and marked a major step in HCS鈥� long-term effort to modernize its infrastructure and enhance student preparedness for future careers.
The 40,000-square-foot central office now serves as the district鈥檚 administrative headquarters, consolidating roughly 150 employees under one roof and improving collaboration and streamlining operations.
Located on the same campus, the 81,000-square-foot Huntsville Center for Technology serves approximately 600 students. The career and technical education hub offers programs in industrial technology, welding, culinary arts, cosmetology, health sciences, precision machining and other career pathways. The project was designed by Nola Van Peursem Architects and was constructed by Lee Builders Inc.