In August 2011, Goldsmith Schiffman Elementary opened its doors to students in a new 123,000 square foot school designed by Chapman Sisson Architects. Being located near a nature preserve, many natural elements were incorporated into the design. The project won the 2011 Top Block Award from the Alabama Concrete Industries Association.

Since the school’s opening in 2011, the population in Owens Cross Roads has continued to grow quickly, leading to a need for additional classroom space. The two-story classroom addition consists of 8 classrooms, with half of the first-floor addition doubling as a required storm shelter. Acoustic murals and the nature theme in the existing school inspired the corridor flooring patterns and reading nooks in the addition.