For two school years, Holland Heights students, families, and staff made a temporary home at the former Longfellow Elementary while their own building was reimagined. On August 16, 2026, Principal Kevin Derr cut the ribbon on the new Holland Heights Elementary, a 73,000 sf nature-based school for 300 pre-K through fifth-grade students.

The original building opened in 1952. Funded by the community through a 2021 bond, the project transformed it into a facility built around the district’s nature-based curriculum, developed in partnership with the Outdoor Discovery Center. Light-filled classrooms connect to designated outdoor learning spaces, so teachers can take lessons outside without leaving campus. The playground follows the same philosophy, with natural tall grasses and nature-inspired equipment. A hub-and-spoke layout keeps the building easy to navigate and secure, and the school is sized for three classroom sections, leaving room to grow as Holland Public Schools carries out its five-year facility plan.

Project Scope:

• Renovated classrooms designed for nature-based learning and small class sizes
• Designated outdoor learning spaces on site
• A new media center
• An expanded gymnasium
• A nature-inspired playground
• A hub-and-spoke building layout with a focus on safety
• Capacity for a third section of classrooms