Kraus-Anderson Begins $3.5M Addition, Renovation for Minnesota High School

Construction firm Kraus-Anderson recently began a $3.5-million addition and renovation project for Jackson County Central Schools in Jackson, Minn. The project entails the addition of a 5,250-square-foot Career and Technical Education (CTE) center and another 2,300 square feet of renovations to the district’s high school. The project is scheduled for completion in November 2023, according to a news release.

The district partnered with JLG Architects for the project’s design. The CTE center is set to feature a Construction and Automotive Lab, as well as renovations to the existing Metal Lab. The space will feature butcher-block counters and floors of polished concrete to accommodate a wide variety of career training opportunities.

“The CTE addition is intended to enhance and expand the amazing work that is already being done at JCC Schools,” said Superintendent Barry Schmidt. “Our students will be able to explore different pathways, which will help them prepare for how classes and careers fit together, as well as college. JCC is committed to helping students succeed in an ever-changing world.”

Kraus-Anderson previously worked with the district on a $35.4-million district bond referendum that local voters passed in November 2019. The referendum covered a broad spectrum of facility replacements and improvements, as well as a brand new middle school—Jackson Country Central Middle School, which cost $26 million and covers 84,000 square feet—completed in February 2023.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Launches New Emergency Communications System

    The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently deployed a new emergency notification and incident management system for its campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with 911Cellular to launch Safe@UTC, a smartphone app allowing university officials to communicate and respond during emergency situations.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.