Kraus-Anderson Finishes $21.4M, Two-School Renovation Project

Kraus-Anderson in Duluth, Minn., recently announced that it has completed a $21.43-million addition and remodel of two facilities for Ely Public Schools in Ely, Minn. The district consists of Ely Memorial High School and Washington Elementary School, which serve a combined total of about 550 students, according to a news release. The project involved 110,500 square feet of renovation work total, including a 71,000-square-foot remodel of the two schools, according to a news release.

“The project added a new 39,000-square-foot commons area that creates a connection link between the high school and the elementary school,” said Todd Erickson, senior project manager at Kraus-Anderson. “The area also contains a safe and secure entry system, school district offices, and high-school and elementary offices.”

Ely Public Schools Renovation Addition
Image courtesy of Shore to Shore Communications, Inc.

The new space includes CTE classrooms, a media center, gymnasium, music room, metals shop and wood shop, and a new cafeteria with upgraded kitchen equipment, the news release reports. The high school gained new boys’ and girls’ locker rooms, the elementary school a new Early Family Childhood Education (ECFE) area, and both received new HVAC systems.

Construction started in May 2021, and the school district also partnered with Architectural Resources, Inc., for the design.

“In addition to budget, staffing, and supply-chain challenges brought about by COVID-19, crews discovered 1,700 cubic yards of ledge rock, which had to be blasted and excavated to allow installation of new utilities,” Erickson said.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • Geometric abstract school illustration

    How Design Shapes Learning and Success

    Can the color of a wall, the curve of a chair, or the hum of fluorescent lights really affect how a student learns? More schools are beginning to think so.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

Digital Edition