After determining that many of its school buildings could no longer serve the city's educational needs, the City of Medford hired HMFH to design new buildings for the entire K-8 population. Following Phase I, in which a new middle school and an elementary/middle complex were built on a new site, HMFH designed replacement elementary schools in three strategic neighborhood locations.

The Columbus is one of three new elementary schools that share virtually identical programs, but because of neighborhood considerations, are housed in three very different buildings. The compact, four-story plan includes a short classroom wing that intersects with large core spaces such as the cafetorium and gym. Pre-K and Kindergarten occupy the ground floor with direct access to outdoor play areas, and grades 1-5 are housed on the floors above. Each of the upper floors contains a bilingual classroom, ESL room, resource room, small group room, and computer lab. Shared spaces include art, music, a science project room, and the media center.

The compact, corner site slopes down to a public park at the rear and required extensive ramping and site walls to connect the various grades. A small amphitheater and play area are closest to the school, and connect with a mid-level play area that is connected, via ramp, to the adjacent public park.