Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Breaks Ground on School

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, in Middleton, Wisc., (MCPASD) broke ground in June on the new Pope Farm Elementary School. Battling overcrowding at multiple schools, Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) worked with the district to design a future-ready school that embodies MCPASD’s mission: Inclusive. Innovative. Inspiring.

Set adjacent to an expansive conservancy, the design concept for Pope Farm Elementary School reinforces a connection to nature. With a variety of spaces to foster small- and large-group instruction, the school’s design is the result of extensive collaboration with teachers and staff.

Pope Farm

“We are excited to kick off construction at Pope Farm Elementary School” said Project Manager Robin Savola. “The safe, functional environments within Pope Farm Elementary School will support learners of all kinds, enhancing their reputation as a destination district.” 

The new 525-student elementary school is part of a larger district building project made possible by a successful $138.9 million referendum approved by voters in November 2018. Additional projects include:

  • Renovate and expand Middleton High School; Clark Street Community School will be included in the high school addition/renovation project
  • Add a cafeteria and areas of light interior renovation at Park Elementary School
  • Convert the current Clark Street Community School building into a 4K-early childhood site

Pope Farm Elementary School is set to open for the start of the 2020-21 school year. J.H. Findorff & Son is the Construction Manager on the project.

Featured

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.