Add as a preferred source on Google

Louisiana High School Opens New CTE Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/26/22

A Louisiana high school recently completed a series of construction and renovation projects with the ribbon-cutting for its new Career Technical Education Center. West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, La., renovated its old gymnasium as a centralized home for its CTE program, according to a news release. The other projects recently completed include a new gymnasium and a Freshman Academy, and all three cost a total of $14.2 million.

The news release reports that the CTE Center houses programs like welding, culinary arts, EMR training, and CNA training. These classes were previously held at local technical colleges, and having to transport students back and forth to these locations during the school day required precise scheduling.

“We had to be very rigid in scheduling,” said West Feliciana School District Superintendent Hollis Milton. “Now, we can be agile. Kids can have a flexible, dual experience here at school. You can take off your welding gear and head straight across the courtyard to Honors English.”

The Freshman Academy involved a renovation of the front portion of the school and includes new classrooms, a Freshman Commons area, science labs, an administrative suite and a more clearly defined entrance to the school. Its purpose is to create a smoother transition for incoming freshman, giving them their own dedicated academic and social spaces that are still part of the larger school. “With all this work, we’re aiming to improve the student experience,” said Milton.

West Feliciana High School Freshman Academy
West Feliciana High School Freshman Academy Exterior
Photo courtesy of Tipton Associates

The new gym features a large lobby, and the weight room offers floor-to-ceiling views of the football field. “It’s a place to compete and to celebrate,” Milton said.

West Feliciana High partnered with architecture firm Tipton Associates and general contractor Stuart & Co. for the project’s construction.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Fayetteville State University Opens New Residence Hall

    Fayetteville State University (FSU) in Fayetteville, N.C., recently completed construction on a new $50-million residence hall, according to a news release. The university partnered with KWK/Jenkins • Peer Architects on the design of Bronco Pride Hall.

  • University of Southern Mississippi Starts Construction on Oyster Hatchery

    The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) recently announced that construction has begun on a new oyster hatchery at its Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) Cedar Point campus in Ocean Springs, Miss., according to a news release.

  • North Texas School District Completes Third New Elementary School

    The Denton Independent School District in Dallas, Texas, recently finished construction on its third prototype design elementary school, Reeves Elementary, according to a news release.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

Digital Edition