Minnesota District Holds Ribbon-Cutting for New High School -- Spaces4Learning

pK12

Minnesota District Holds Ribbon-Cutting for New High School

By Matt Jones
10/04/23

Owatonna Public Schools in Owatonna, Minn., recently completed construction on a new high school for the district and celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late September, according to a news release. Owatonna High School covers 300,000 square feet and was designed by Wold Architects and Engineers to reflect the local community and available career paths for students.

The new facility includes spaces for career pathways like nursing, digital fabrication, the culinary arts, publishing and digital content creation, and science and engineering, according to the news release. The school also features a commons area designed to elicit the feeling of a town square, as well as ties to local industries to build partnerships between students and local businesses.

“Following years of working alongside many incredible local businesses, partners, staff and students, we are thrilled to finally open Owatonna High School and watch our students excel,” said Owatonna Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Elstad. “This school will help them foster a sense of community and ownership over their learning in an innovative and inspiring environment while serving as a source of excitement and pride for the city of Owatonna.”

Wold Architects and Engineers involved hundreds of staff members, students, community members, and local business leaders as they solicited input for the school’s design and community values. The land for the new school—as well as $20 million—was donated by mutual insurance company Federated Insurance. The district also partnered with construction manager Kraus-Anderson.

“After almost 10 years of working with Owatonna Public Schools to unite the community to successfully pass a referendum and design the district’s new high school, we’re proud to see the innovative building finally come to life,” said Wold Architects and Engineers partner Paul Aplikowski. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the district and local voices to create a school that reflects the community it serves. We are excited to see how this school realizes the district’s vision for education for many years to come and becomes a role model for the area in high school education.”

About the Author

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

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.
Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.
Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.
Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.