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

  • Photo courtesy of Kraus-Anderson

    Minnesota District Completes $49.7M Addition, Renovation Project

    St. Paul Public Schools in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $49.7-million addition and remodeling project at two district schools, according to a news release.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Starts Construction on Healthcare Education Hub

    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., recently announced that work has begun on a renovation project that will turn the Stewart Building into a new Healthcare Education Hub, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Sundt Construction Inc. for construction services.