Over the past few weeks, action has been taken on four schools that are part of Cincinnati Public Schools' (CPS) $1 billion facilities master plan.

The CPS Board of Education has approved schematic designs for Aiken University High School and Silverton Paideia Academy, both new construction projects.

The $29.2 million high school, designed by Voorhis Slone Welsh Crossland Architects, will include a three-story academic wing, a one-story community wing, and a 1,000-seat gymnasium.

The 1,000-student school for grades 7-12 is scheduled for completion in 2013.

The $12 million Silverton Paideia Academy, to be built at the southern end of , is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2012 and will serve 400 students in grades PK-6.

GBBN Architects' drawings for the new building have not been made available to the public.

In addition, updated drawings for the new $14.4 million North Avondale Montessori School were recently released.

Designed by CR Architecture + Design, Fanning Howey and Moody Nolan, Inc., the 85,470-square-foot building is expected to be completed next summer.


City sides with CPS

Cincinnati City Council has sided with the CPS board in its decision to build a new gymnasium along the eastern side of Westwood Elementary School, passing a resolution of support at its October 6 meeting.

The resolution overturns a decision by the City's zoning hearing examiner that the gymnasium, which is part of a $14.4 million renovation project, would damage the character of a key contributing building and negatively impact the integrity of the .

Concerned neighbors, led by the Westwood Civic Association, had argued that the gymnasium would be less intrusive if built on the .

CPS countered that the eastern side of the school, along Harrison Avenue, was the only viable option and that changing the location could jeopardize the whole project.

Councilmembers Leslie Ghiz and Chris Monzel voted against the measure.

Pictured: Aiken rendering and site plan, North Avondale rendering.

Previous reading on BC:
Council may weigh in on Westwood demolition (10/4/07)