COLUMBUS, Ind. — The ABC-Stewart Montessori School is looking to revamp or entirely replace its current building after 40 years in the same westside facility,
As school leaders consider the project, they have turned to another educational institution for insight: Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program.
As part of an architectural studio class, first-year students have spent the semester conducting research, meeting with school stakeholders and coming up with concepts for the building project.
“This is the first architectural studio project in the five years we’ve existed that has taken on the design of a real project in the community,” said faculty member and community engagement coordinator Britt Brewer.
“We were very impressed to see all of the different visions that these students had,” said ABC-Stewart Director Stefanie Stafford.
She said that ABC-Stewart is “outgrowing” its current building at 6691 State Road 46 in Columbus, which has been the school’s home since 1983.
When ABC first got started in 1969, it was located in the basement of founder Merry Carmichael. According to Carmichael, the school moved to a building at the former Bakalar Air Force Base, now Columbus Municipal Airport, in 1971. Then, in 1977, the school moved into the World War II former Officers’ Club at Bakalar, which consisted of five buildings.
“In 1982, we were talking seriously about building a new building right there at Bakalar,” said Carmichael. “And so we had done a lot of groundwork regarding that when the old Kent School on (State Road) 46 became available. We moved there in ‘83.”
The three-unit former public school building was built in the 1950s.
Like Stafford, Carmichael said that ABC has “outgrown” the facility. She added that they are spending a lot on upkeep.
“It (the building) does not relate to really what the Montessori philosophy is, and it does not meet the full needs of all of our students,” said Stafford. Safety is also a concern.
Additionally, ABC-Stewart currently serves children ranging from 2 years old to sixth graders and would like to extend its offerings up to the eighth grade. The school is also considering adding an infant program, which would require more staffing and space.
As it is, the school’s classrooms for younger students are always at capacity, said Stafford.
For the complete story and more photos, see Thursday’s Republic.
