Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Minnesota K–12 District Completes New Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/03/24

Rock Ridge Public Schools in Virginia, Minn., recently announced that construction of the district’s newest elementary school is complete. North Star Elementary cost $28.5 million and has the capacity for 600 students in grades 3–6, according to a news release. The district partnered with Kraus-Anderson Duluth for the project’s construction and BNDRY Studio for its design.

The project was part of a larger construction initiative after consolidating the Eveleth-Gilbert and Virginia school districts into Rock Ridge, the news release reports. The 79,000-square-foot facility stands three stories and takes the place of a former elementary and high school. Amenities include collaborative learning spaces, open-concept classrooms, and modernized technology and teaching resources.

The building’s second floor features an outdoor learning space via an open-air learning patio above the main commons area. Extending the building upward to minimize the building’s footprint and reclaim greenspace was the result of collaboration with the surrounding community. Construction began in spring 2022, according to the news release.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • Auburn University Debuts $224M STEM + Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., recently opened its new $224-million STEM + Agricultural Sciences Complex, the largest research construction project in the university’s history, according to university news. The facility measures more than 265,000 square feet and brings six departments from the College of Agriculture and College of Sciences and Mathematics together under one roof.

  • Big Horn Academy

    Big Horn Academy

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Big Horn Academy has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • St. Lucie County, Fla., Breaks Ground on New K–8 School

    St. Lucie Public Schools in St. Lucie County, Fla., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new K–8 school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., for the design of the upcoming Ft. Pierce K–8 School, which comprises six buildings covering 215,000 square feet.