Pfeiffer/Miller South Project Coming Together | Groundbreaking set for March 19th

It’s been nearly three years since the Akron Board of Education originally approved the Pfeiffer/Miller South construction project that will rebuild an elementary and middle school side by side. 

Groundbreaking for the new complex will be held at 11 a.m. on March 19 at the former Kenmore High School Campus, 2140 13th Street S.W.

The space will be shared by two separate schools: one serving Pfeiffer Elementary students (grades PreK-5) and the other serving Miller South Middle School students (grades 4-8). The boundaries of the proposed construction site are: Battles Avenue, 16th Street, Wyoming Avenue and 13th Street.

The latest renditions of the project buildings are available to the public after months of input from APS and open community meetings. The plans show that both schools will enter the building through the main entrance, which will be located facing 13th street.

The main entrance has a separation area. The Miller South students enter the North part of the building and the Pfeiffer students will enter on the South side of the entrance area.

There’s a fine arts focus on Miller South with practice rooms for music classes, dance and vocal performers. A crossover has been added to the back of the theater stage, allowing students to move from one side of the stage to the other unseen during performances.

Anderson said the new sound system, which was recently installed at Miller South, will be able to be relocated in the new school’s theater.

The Miller South construction plans also include dedicated piano storage on stage and improved backstage access, such as stairs to the theater catwalk and light control room.

Both schools will use shared spaces, which will include the cafeteria, auditorium/theater and gym for regular educational activities and community events. 

Miller South principal Regina Anderson said she and her staff and a sample of the student body had input from the beginning.

“I love that the architects took everyone's feedback and made adjustments to the designs so that all voices, staff and students, are present,” Anderson said. “The color scheme is what the students liked, classrooms are designed for the needs of the teachers and the common spaces are appropriate for all.

“Adjustments to the original design had to be made due to the budget, but we pretty much have everything that we would like with the exception of a 1,000 seat theater.”

The original budget for the Pfeiffer/Miller South project was $63 million. As the project begins to move forward through the design phases, costs are estimated to increase by $13 million for a total of $76 million.

In an effort to stay on track financially, some reductions in square footage and certain features were cut back. The district is continuing to review options to address the budget gap. 

Pfeiffer principal Tina McIntyre said she was also consulted in the initial talks as well as her staff and students. She was asked how many teachers she had (11 and a total of 30 if you include the support staff) and how many offices she needed.

Additionally, teachers were asked what they would like to see in the classrooms. Architects, along with students, had an opportunity to share their thoughts on design and color schemes.

“The specialty I asked for was a slide they can go down as an incentive. It would be an enclosed slide,” McIntyre said. “Just a fun thing to do. A reward on the slide to say ‘ hey you made it or you knocked out the I-ready.’” 

The Pfeiffer building will also include art and music rooms, a media center and a more functional and effective extended learning area for teachers and students. Playgrounds will be located outside the kindergarten classes.

“We’re excited about being in the new building, but we still have a couple more years. We are a smaller building now, but with the larger proposed building we are hoping to get a pre-kindergarten class and an opportunity to get more students to apply at Miller South, right next door, and not lose students to charter schools.”

Last Thursday, Pfeiffer school held a small open house. Parents were there for interim reports and were asked if they wanted to talk to one of the architects who was on hand to talk about the construction project. Architects have also shared plans in community meetings.

McIntyre said there are plans to change the school’s mascot from the Pfeiffer Pirates to the Pfeiffer Cardinals, bringing back the Cardinals because of the Kenmore community.

According to Debra Foulk, the executive director of business affairs for APS, funding for the Pfeiffer/Miller South construction project has several sources including certificates of participation, the general fund and leftover monies from the previous building projects that APS, City of Akron and the state used to build the new APS CLCs (Community Learning Centers) between 2003 through 2022.

The staff at both schools are looking forward to selecting furniture for the new schools. They are also weighing their options on what they should take from the old buildings to the new buildings – including pictures, art work, a piece of the building – keepsakes to keep the history of the old buildings alive.

Pfeiffer/Miller South Timeline

July 10, 2023 - Original approval to move forward by the Akron Board of Education 

March 25, 2024 - Board asked to rank the approved firms that APS could begin to negotiate with. 

July 22, 2024 - Board gave approval for Prime AE to become the architectural firm for the project.

January 13, 2025 - Board approved the actual vendors that demolished the former Kenmore High School building . Demolition began in spring of 2025.

January 13, 2025 - Board gave approval for Palmer Conservation Consulting LLC to represent the Owners (APS).

March 2025 - A Hudson company, CT Taylor, was named as the contractor. 

March 19, 2026 - Groundbreaking

August 2028 - Targeted date for opening. After the new schools open, the old Pfeiffer and Miller South school buildings will be demolished.

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Please note: these renderings are conceptual and not final. They are an initial step in the design process and are likely to evolve as planning continues.

Pfeiffer and Miller South Front Entrance

Pfeiffer and Miller South Entrance from Battles

Pfeiffer and Miller South Battles and 16th