South Fayette Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Elementary School

The new South Fayette Elementary School has officially broken ground! On April 28th, the South Fayette Township School District held a ceremony located on the new school’s site, south of the campus and near the intermediate school.

The South Fayette High School orchestra opened the ceremony, followed by Superintendent Dr. Michelle Miller with welcoming remarks. Steve Massaro of Massaro Construction Group, General Contractor for the project, gave the audience an overview of the new K-2 elementary school.

Superintendent Dr. Miller presenting welcoming remarks

Members of DRAW Collective, Massaro Construction Group, and Dr. Miller mark the beginning of construction

Members of the DRAW Collective design team; (from left to right) Dan Engen, Shane Brown, Ryan Snodgrass, Allison Swauger, Tricia Monaco, and Tim Reidy

Designed by DRAW Collective with students at the forefront of the design process, the new building is structured to support students of all learning styles and physical abilities. Sensory rooms and life skills classrooms are scattered throughout the building to foster a strong, supportive learning environment. Furthermore, the playground is designed for exploration, safety, and accessibility—from the wheelchair-accessible swing set to the varied ground textures that promote stimulation and evoke a variety of natural elements (rivers, sand, dirt, and grass).

South Fayette Elementary School collaboration atrium

South Fayette Elementary School playground

While the new elementary school was deemed necessary for proper space and safety, the new building is also a symbol of South Fayette’s dedication to investing in its students and community. The school district is seeing increased enrollment each year. Consequently, South Fayette has prioritized providing 21st-century learning environments for its students of all ages and learning capabilities. The school district is further investing in its students through additions and renovations at the South Fayette Intermediate School, which is also designed by DRAW Collective; the project is slated for completion in August 2026.

The new South Fayette Elementary School is scheduled to open in time for the 2028-29 school year.

Project team:
Construction Manager: PJ Dick
General Contractor: Massaro Construction Group
MEP Engineering: Tower Engineering
Civil Engineering: Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Structural Engineering: Keystone Structural Solutions
Site Design: Herbert, Rowland, Grubic, Inc. (HRG)
Electrical: Merit Electrical Group, Inc.
Mechanical: Lugaila Mechanical, Inc.
Plumbing: Vrabel Plumbing