Staff report
Corrales Elementary School marked a significant milestone this week with a groundbreaking ceremony for its $56.7 million expansion project. The project, funded by voter-approved bonds from 2021, will transform the school into a K-8 facility, aiming to address student retention and enhance educational resources in the community.
The expansion will result in a nearly 121,000-square-foot facility designed to accommodate approximately 525 students and 50 staff members. Currently, about 60% of Corrales Elementary students transfer out of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) for middle school, a trend the expansion seeks to reverse.
Key features of the project include the renovation of existing buildings, a new two-story classroom building, a dining hall, a sports hall and various support structures. The project also involves the demolition of older buildings, extensive site redesign with a new field and track, playgrounds, and improved parking.
Sustainability and community engagement are central to the plans. Rainwater will be directed into a retention pond for educational purposes, and an outdoor classroom and pollinator gardens will be added near the acequia. Traffic flow will be improved with a relocated student pick-up and drop-off loop. A pocket park will also be dedicated back to the village along Corrales Road.
Architects from Roma Architecture emphasized integrating the local landscape and ditch system as a “teaching tool” within the campus, creating a “landscaped sanctuary.” The estimated completion date for the project is July 2027.